NERCHA addressing drivers of HIV infections amongst adolescent girls
HIV infections amongst adolescent girls and young women are on the rise in the country and NERCHA is working on interventions to address the drivers of infections amongst this population group.
This was disclosed by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini when responding to the Senate Portfolio Committee in this regard.
He said NERCHA has with the support from different sectors completed the development of the national multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS strategic framework for 20242028.
One of the areas the strategy is focusing on is economic vulnerability.
“NERCHA different sectors and development partners will address the surge in HIV infection through the implementation of the 2025 HIV prevention roadmap aimed at improving the HIV prevention package for AGYW,” said the PM.
This he said will include the revision and updating of the life skills curriculum to address the HIV knowledge gaps and introduce more HIV prevention options and technologies identified to be at risk of acquiring and spreading HIV infections.
It will also increase social protection programs to keep girls in schools and support the rollout of comprehensive sexuality education as it has been proven in other contexts that this equips young people with the necessary skills to avoid AIDS acquisition.
The PM had been questioned by senators on how the organisation aims to respond to HIV infections amongst this population group because the rise in HIV infections risk the country’s successful HIV response.
In terms of improving social behaviour change, the PM was advised to use similar HIV awareness approaches used by NERCHA and engage the nation on good social behaviour that will address all the deteriorating observed social behaviours.
The PM said in addition to the ongoing men-engaging dialogues being supported by NERCHA in both the public and private sectors, the entity’s 2024/25 budget includes an HIV prevention and advocacy campaign aimed at stimulating dialogues on social behavioral change.