15 000 young women test positive for HIV
Between January and October this year out of 727 466 women between the ages of 15 to 24 who got tested for HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, 15 665 tested positive.
“Old men must stop destroying the nation through the sexual exploitation of young girls,” said KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane.
The MEC said this a trend that is largely responsible for the province’s growing rate of HIV and sexually-transmitted infections among girls aged between 15 and 24.
Simelane said according to shocking statistics from the Department’s official records, between January and October this year out of 727 466 women between the ages of 15 to 24 who got tested for HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, 15 665 tested positive.
She said although this amounts to a positivity rate of 2%, more than 15 000 young women testing positive for HIV is extremely worrying.
The MEC was speaking in commemoration of World Aids Day recently.
“At least 15 girls aged between 10 and 14 were found to have STIs. A further 322 girls aged between 15 and 19 also tested positive for STIs. An additional 702 women between the ages of 20 and 24 were found to have STIs. Within the same period, a total of 6 417 pregnant women tested positive for syphilis (a potentially life-threatening disease that can cause premature delivery; severe damage to the heart, brain or other organs.) This is already higher than the 4 147 women who tested positive for syphilis during the whole 2021/22 financial year,” said Simelane.
She added that as part of the province’s new HIV/Aids awareness strategy, she recently unveiled a brand new street billboard HIV messaging campaign that targets young people, written in a language that they speak.
She said these billboards carry messages such as: ” I-Skoon Siyabhayizisa – Condomise. Sihamba Ngolayini: Sidla Ama-ARV Waya-Waya, Sihlale Si-Sharp, and Cupha Isisoka Bhinca Lami, Ukhuphuke NgoShuni we-Condom”.
Nomagugu said they are also saying to girls: “Don’t look at who’s carrying an iPhone or Samsung or wearing a nine-inch weave. These are the kinds of pressures that steer or children towards these ‘Blessers’ because they have the financial means to lure them and buy them some of these things. It is vital for our children to be content and live within their means.”
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