Sensitive topics such as free condoms at schools and teenage sex will be raised at a community dialogue on teenage pregnancy hosted by the Eastern Cape Aids Council (Ecac) next Tuesday.
Speakers are expected to include representatives of religious, traditional and academic fraternities.
Teenagers will also be given a platform to speak as they are the most affected by the issues.
Ecac’s Vuyisa Dayile said the Eastern Cape recorded among the highest number of teenage pregnancies in the country.
“The Eastern Cape hangs its head in shame for recording the second highest number of teenage pregnancies which is a proxy for unprotected sex.
“According to the UNAids about 1200 girls get infected with HIV every week in the country,” said Dayile.
Chief director for care and support in schools at the Department of Basic Education, Dr Faith Kumalo, is expected to be part of the event along with Patrick Solomon of Molo Songololo, a child rights’ organisation.
“Paul Colditz, the CEO of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools will be presenting as well, with Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa from the religious sector, Dr Nokuzola Mndende and a learner representative there as well.”
Ntshingwa confirmed his attendance saying he will focus on, among other things, people knowing their HIV/Aids status.
Last year the Daily Dispatch reported the department of basic education’s statistics where the Eastern Cape recorded close to 30000 teenage pregnancies from 2010 to 2014.
The Eastern Cape department of education described the results as shocking and an embarrassment.
Dayile said interactions with some of those affected pointed to a lack of access to user friendly sexual reproductive health services.
“Now, a question to ponder is the department’s policy on HIV, STIs and TB.
“Amongst other things, the policy seeks to provide sexual and reproductive health services within school premises including provision of male and female condoms, HIV testing and counselling, STI screening and family planning,” he said.
Dayile said the public was split in the middle about the policy. “Those opposing the move argue that if schools give out condoms they are essentially promoting early sexual debut amongst learners,” he said.
lThe dialogues will be held at Education Leadership Institute in East London on March 15 starting at 9am.
Dialogue set to debate sensitive sex, HIV issues
Speakers are expected to include representatives of religious, traditional and academic fraternities.
Teenagers will also be given a platform to speak as they are the most affected by the issues.
Ecac’s Vuyisa Dayile said the Eastern Cape recorded among the highest number of teenage pregnancies in the country.
“The Eastern Cape hangs its head in shame for recording the second highest number of teenage pregnancies which is a proxy for unprotected sex.
“According to the UNAids about 1200 girls get infected with HIV every week in the country,” said Dayile.
Chief director for care and support in schools at the Department of Basic Education, Dr Faith Kumalo, is expected to be part of the event along with Patrick Solomon of Molo Songololo, a child rights’ organisation.
“Paul Colditz, the CEO of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools will be presenting as well, with Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa from the religious sector, Dr Nokuzola Mndende and a learner representative there as well.”
Ntshingwa confirmed his attendance saying he will focus on, among other things, people knowing their HIV/Aids status.
Last year the Daily Dispatch reported the department of basic education’s statistics where the Eastern Cape recorded close to 30000 teenage pregnancies from 2010 to 2014.
The Eastern Cape department of education described the results as shocking and an embarrassment.
Dayile said interactions with some of those affected pointed to a lack of access to user friendly sexual reproductive health services.
“Now, a question to ponder is the department’s policy on HIV, STIs and TB.
“Amongst other things, the policy seeks to provide sexual and reproductive health services within school premises including provision of male and female condoms, HIV testing and counselling, STI screening and family planning,” he said.
Dayile said the public was split in the middle about the policy. “Those opposing the move argue that if schools give out condoms they are essentially promoting early sexual debut amongst learners,” he said.
lThe dialogues will be held at Education Leadership Institute in East London on March 15 starting at 9am.
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