Authorities take action after reports our HIV-AIDS infection worst in province

THE KZN Treasury has financed a project to address the snowballing of HIV-AIDS infections in women between the ages of 14 and 24 in northern KZN.

This follows a shocking report recently presented by the KZN Office of the Premier, which revealed the ‘sugar daddy’ trend has caused more girls to get infected in the King Cetshwayo District than anywhere else in the province.

The Young Women and Girls Project kicked off in Richards Bay on Friday with the training of 50 life skills coaches who will offer counselling to teenagers from 1 February.

‘According to statistics, far more girls get infected than boys in the same age group, because they get involved in relationships with older men,’ said KZN Treasury Project Director Vuyiswa Mkhize.

‘We have worked with the Department of Education to identify 50 schools throughout this district to give education on puberty, teenage pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections and HIV counselling and testing.

‘This will be a three-year project with a target of reaching 5 000 learners.

‘We have also facilitated Rise Women’s Clubs for women between 19 and 24 years of age who are out of school, have no tertiary education and no job.’

Mkhize added they have arranged for certain clinics to have a ‘happy hour’.

‘From 2pm until 3pm, these clinics will welcome young girls coming from school to be tested or receive contraceptives.

‘A nurse will specifically be available to assist them without them having to fear judgement.

‘This is all extremely important to keep our girls in school.’

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