LOSING BATTLE
Increased concern over new HIV infections Adolescent girls most vulnerable
There is a rising concern about the high numbers of new HIV infections affecting adolescents particularly girls, despite Botswana’s significant achievements in the fight against the AIDS-causing virus.
Goabaone Mogomotsi from the HIV Testing Services in the Ministry of Health said at this week’s HIV/AIDS Update Workshop for the Media that infections are mainly driven by among others, low HIV awareness among adolescent girls, early sexual debut, vulnerabilities to infection owing to biological make-up as well as GBV, and inadequate youthfriendly health facilities.
Previous reports have also indicated that like adolescent girls, women are equally vulnerable than their male counterparts, with gender imbalance observed among those living with the virus.
The prevalence rate for women, is currently at 26.2 percent much higher than for men at 15.2 percent, showing that young women are particularly at risk.
Ineffective Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) in schools has also been cited as a factor depriving young people, especially girls, the opportunity to make informed decisions about their sexuality.
CSE is meant to equip young people with knowledge, skills and values to make responsible choices about their sexuality and social relationships in light of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy.
CSE was launched in 2016 and is a collaboration of the Ministries of Health and Education. It has three components including; teachers, parents and students that all need to work closely together to ensure the programme’s success.
Thongbotho Molomo, a 20-year-old university student told The Midweek Sun in an interview that it is disheartening to note that while a lot is expected from young people, not much is done to ensure that they are equipped with not only sexual education and information but that they are also given full access to health services without being judged.
“I believe most girls my age and younger do not have the information that they need to help them make decisions about sex,” she said, adding that while parents are encouraged to keep communication lines open with their children, most do not talk to their children about sex.
Peo Matlhaku, 19, also a university student said the treatment they receive as young people in health facilities is not always welcoming.
“The environment is hostile. This causes a lot of young people to shy away from seeking the necessary assistance they desperately need,” she said.