Save the girl child from jaws of makorokozas

EDITOR — It surprises me so much that despite all that has been said and done about HIV and Aids in Zimbabwe, we still have some people, especially school children and out of school youths who are not embracing positive behaviour change.

When I talked about HIV at the entry points such as border posts and growth points, I never expected to hear some shocking reports where school going boys and girls are involved.

I feel it is high time we should have health workers from the Ministry of Health and Child Care visiting all our schools in all the ten provinces to educate the students about the dangers of HIV and Aids.

Failure to do that will simply mean the fight against the virus will not be won because our children are doing a lot of dirty things behind the backs of parents.

I visited a certain province recently and what I observed there left me in a state of shock and speechless. One secondary school in the province was reported as having more than 80 percent of schoolgirls who are HIV positive. This is not good news at all.

The school which is located in mining area and these girls are being given money by corrupt gold panners to indulge in sexual activities, and mostly without protection.

Reports also indicated that these girls are always seen having a nice time with makorokoza during school time and many parents are worried that their children will fail the examinations since they spend more time at mines instead of classrooms.

I feel the only solution to this problem is to have health workers who visit these schools, churches and also illegal panning sites to educate children and illegal miners on the dangers of HIV and Aids like they do at our border posts where prostitution is rife.

I still remember some years ago some parents reacted angrily when health workers proposed to conduct HIV and Aids lessons and distribute condoms at schools.

Given what is happening today, I feel it was a very good and informed decision because pupils are and will continue to indulge in risky bad sexual behaviour and it is therefore very important for the children to be educated about the danger associated with such conduct at a tender age.

I was also disturbed to hear that sexually transmitted diseases are also high at schools in mining areas.

The general school pass-rate has also gone low in these areas and I am appealing to the Government to the urgently address this problem because as I speak, many girls are being enticed with money to camp at illegal panning sites.

Young girls should not be allowed to generate money through the oldest profession, but should be protected and be given an opportunity to pursue their academic dreams in a conducive and respectful environment.

A society that preys and devours its young ones is doomed. It is never too late to act; a stitch in time saves nine. Society should fight to rescue the girl child from the jaws and claws of these makorokozas.

Thank you.

Eddious Masundire Shumba