HIGH RATE OF HIV POSITIVE YOUTH IN OUR TOWNSHIP AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY.

There is a growing number of youth who are testing positive for HIV and a high rate of teenage pregnancy. The stats keep rising everyday. We encourage the youth to do their tests regularly and follow the six-week window period to ensure they know their status, most importantly youth need to use condoms to prevent STI’s and unplanned pregnancy. One of the causes of the high rate HIV & AIDS and Teenage Pregnancy is unemployment, youth are unemployed and do not have enough opportunities, the stats indicate that some have even stopped looking for employment. This has led to depression and the use of substance abuse for example alcohol and drug abuse. Substance abuse also leads to the high level of crime in communities, drug users have to find ways to sustain their habits which forces them to engage in crime. Drugs are also linked directly to the spread of HIV as users share needles and share blood in order to have the drugs in their system.

We really pleading with our government to assist in the creation of jobs, learnerships, internships, bursaries and other opportunities for youth. The government cannot sit by and while the situation worsens. Youth is encouraged to make use of the youth centres in their communities and to refrain from drugs and substance abuse.

Youth Force