Youth chairladies’ meeting: young women and HIV risk
Youth chairladies heard from a health facilitator about why young women are most at risk of HIV, and how they can lead their peers towards zero new infections.
MASYAP meets the chairladies of its support groups twice a year to update them on news from the office, respond to earlier questions and follow up on how the groups are doing. This meeting also helped the youth chairladies get to know each other and discuss current issues around HIV/AIDS and the lives of girls today.
Working towards 95-95-95
Women’s Coordinator Lennie Kachingwe urged the chairladies to work together to help reach the 95-95-95 targets by 2030. Young people aged 13 to 24 are among the most affected, and they are best placed to raise awareness among their peers.
The facilitator encouraged the girls to work hard at school, so that they can read and understand information about HIV/AIDS and grow into responsible citizens.
Who is most at risk
Health facilitator Dorica Mchawa explained that sexually transmitted infections affect people of all ages but take a particularly heavy toll on young people, with 15 to 30-year-olds accounting for about half of all new infections. The risk of HIV depends on the type of exposure and behaviour. Anyone can get HIV, but some people are more vulnerable because they cannot refuse unprotected sex or because of the risks in their lives. Groups at highest risk include:
- young women aged 15 to 30
- migrant and mine workers
- transport workers
- sex workers
- people who inject drugs
- people who have anal sex
The girls were encouraged to avoid behaviour that could put them at risk of getting or passing on HIV.
Protecting young women
Youth Coordinator Fatima Hassan called on the chairladies to work together towards zero new HIV infections among young people. Young women are especially vulnerable because they are often unable to refuse unprotected sex with a partner who is HIV positive, and they are the most common victims of rape and sexual abuse. Girls who are virgins are also at risk because of the false belief that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS. This myth is untrue and is used to excuse child abuse.
