...that '27,000 adolescents get infected with HIV every day in Zambia' sparks debate | WestMac Media

By Staff Writer, Lusaka 

The public has received a report that 27,000 adolescents get infected with HIV every day in Zambia with mixed feelings. 

The public analysis is that if 27,000 get infected everyday, then in a year atleast 9855000 young Zambians contract HIV. 

According Daily Nation about 27,000 adolescents between the ages of 15 to 24 years are getting infected with HIV every day in Zambia, says Ministry of Youth Sport and Child Development child specialist Kakuwa Musheke. 

Mr Musheke said the number represents up to 40 percent HIV new infections which also included high number of teenage pregnancies and child marriages. 

He was speaking during a presentation at the National AIDS Council (NAC) media workshop held under the umbrella of the UNESCO’s Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Commitment to sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people commitment meeting held in Lusaka yesterday. 

Mr Musheke said it was unacceptable that young people had fallen prey to the HIV pandemic out of ignorance and due to lack of access to preventative information on how to avoid unsafe sex. 

“Lack of adequate information on sexuality, coupled with superficial misinformation and even fake information and myths about sexual reproductive health have contributed to the high levels of new HIV infections rates among young people of between 15-24years. 

“Young people now represent upto 40 percent of new HIV infections which is a high burden of disease prevalence in Zambia,” he said. 

He explained that with these numbers of about 27 000 new infections per year, it translates into 72 young people were at high risk of infection every day, and three (03) new HIV infections every hour. 

Mr Musheke charged that there was a lot of misinformation around sex and sexual reproductive health for young people which had contributed massively to the high numbers of infection, and teenage pregnancies. 

He further explained high levels of substance abuse including alcohol abuse have also contributed to illicit sexual activities which results in teenage pregnancies, high numbers of child marriages and high HIV new infections among young people. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender has disclosed that gender based violence reports had reportedly continued to increase showing positive response from the victims to seek legal address. 

Assistant director for gender rights protection at the ministry, Namatama Chinyama said 18,088 cases were reported in 2015 and 18 054 in 2016. 

She explained that the growing trends was as a result of elevated awareness for the victims and their willingness to share or report their experiences with relevant authorities.