The report reaffirms South Africa's commitment to the prevention, treatment, care and support of HIV, AIDS and TB in South Africa and globally. It also suggests that measures to address the disproportionate vulnerability of women and girls should include "integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health in health care and health services and prevention education that promotes gender equality and eradicate women and girls vulnerability."
In South Africa, most young people become sexually active between 13 and 24 years, and most new infections are between 15 and 24 years, mainly among young women.
According to Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Professor in Public Health and Family Medicine at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, "by the age of 20, one in three women is already infected with HIV. By the time they are 25, it's one in two."
This is a devastating fact faced by many young South African women on a daily basis.
SANAC's input into the declaration highlights the importance of developing and accelerating the implementation of national strategies that promote the advancement of women and girls, and eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. It also reiterates the importance of prevention education that promotes gender equality.
OneVoice South Africa (OVSA) is a local NGO which offers such a dynamic strategy to young people. Through their in-depth Schools Programme, they offer appropriate and targeted life skills education in the classroom to Grade 8 learners (ages 13-19 years).
Educational content and materials have been developed by educational experts and key stakeholders (including parents/caregivers and learners) and focus on HIV, TB, life skills, sexual reproductive health, gender and human rights information, as well as the opportunity and capacity to develop activities that increase HIV and TB awareness in their schools and communities.
What also makes OVSA stand out is their commitment to meaningful participation of and partnership with young people. Consulted on an ongoing basis on the various planning and implementation stages (materials are pre-tested with learners from participating schools), young people provide critical input that keeps the Schools Programme relevant, culturally gender sensitive as well as age-appropriate.
Through programmes such as the Schools Programme, local organisations can support a national response such as the one SANAC envisages. With a joint focus on developing and delivering innovative educational strategies South Africa role players and stakeholders should be able to support the empowerment of women and girls on matters related to their sexuality and increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV and TB infection.
For more information on OVSA, go to www.onevoice.org.za or email az.gro.ecioveno@njilram.
