HIV/Aids education in schools prioritised

THE MEC for Economic Development and Environment, Sihle Zikalala, has applauded the Department of Education for initiating a ‘Baby Not Now’ campaign in the uMkhanyakude region.

The campaign targets learners, educating them on HIV in an attempt to stop new infections among the youth.

Speaking at a World Aids event at Mbazwana on Friday, he said 1 557 schoolgirl pregnancies were recorded in the region last year.

‘This means that all these young people had unprotected sex which put them in danger of contracting HIV.

‘We have to intensify our campaigns around this issue in schools, churches and communities. The message needs to be spread through various platforms, including organising boot camps for boys and girls where they can undergo HIV and sex education,‘ Zikalala said.

He added that the uMkhanyakude District Municipality has exceeded its targets of reducing mother to child HIV transmissions.

Five years ago the transmission rate stood at five percent. We are pleased to report this has declined to only 0.7%, and our goal is to ensure that eventually not even a single child is born HIV positive,’ he said.

Zikalala also commended the district for its successful male circumcision programme.

‘More than 6 300 males were circumcised last year, but in June this year the figure already stood at 14 000.’

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