ZIMBABWE:BACKGROUND FEATURE AFRICA IS THE WORST-HIT REGION WITH AIDS

Record ID: 836486

  • Title: ZIMBABWE:BACKGROUND FEATURE AFRICA IS THE WORST-HIT REGION WITH AIDS
  • Date: 23rd December 1996
  • Summary: HIGHFIELDS, NEAR HARARE, ZIMBABWE (RECENT) (RTV) INTERIOR OF HIGHFIELDS MEN'S ACTION GROUP / YOUNG MEN WORKING ON PUBLICITY VARIOUS OF GROUP MEMBERS IN OFFICE SAM MUSIYIWA (IN WHITE BASEBALL CAP) LOOKING AT PAPERS MUSIYIWA SAYING HE SAID IF YOU ARE NOT ENGAGED IN SEX AT THE AGE OF 15 OR 16 YOU ARE SOMEHOW ABNORMAL (ENGLISH) HARARE, ZIMBABWE (RECENT) (RTV) INTERIOR OF YOUTH CLUB, YOUNG PEOPLE PLAYING CARDS AND TABLE TENNIS PUBLICITY POSTERS BAPTIST MINISTER NOAH PASHAPA, YOUTH IN TOUCH PROGRAMME, TALKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE VARIOUS OF YOUNG PEOPLE SITTING ROUND TABLE PASHAPA SAYING IF YOU CAN INFLUENCE 1 OUT OF 10 YOUNG PEOPLE TO ADOPT A POSITIVE LIFE AND BECOME AN INFLUENCER, WE CALL THEM INFLUENCERS, AMONG THEIR PEERS YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED" (ENGLISH) YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUTH CLUB TENDAI TSOPOTSA, YOUTH CLUB MEMBER SAYING THERE IS A SILLY SAYING THAT SEX WITH A CONDOM YOU ARE EATING A SWEET, YOU KNOW, WRAPPED IN THE PAPER. YOU ARE NOT A MAN (ENGLISH)
  • Embargoed: 7th January 1997 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DOMBO TOMBO, HIGHFIELDS AND HARARE, ZIMBABWE
  • City:
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: Education,General,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7XDZSIHYMXO7CU2I1BKJ3KCMR
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The United Nations has been sounding the alarm bells about the spread of AIDS in the developing world.
    Africa is the worst-hit region. There are about 14 million people infected with the virus.
    Nonetheless, the continent has made some progress in dealing with the disease.
    Condoms are widely distributed, and governments have allocated additional money for healthcare and education.
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    It's Monday morning at Dombo Tombo Primary School, just outside Zimbabwe's capital Harare.
    Today, class 5D are being taught the skills they'll need to survive in a society ravaged by Aids.
    Almost 20 per cent of Zimbabwe's adult population is now infected with HIV predominantly through unprotected heterosexual sex and children aged between about 5 and 15 represent the countries only Aids-free generation.
    By steering children towards understanding relationships from an early age, their teacher hopes they'll grow up to lead long and productive lives.
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    CAPTION: WINNET MUGANDANI, TEACHER "WE DON'T GO MUCH INTO TEACHING ABOUT AIDS AND HIV TO THESE YOUNGSTERS BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL VERY YOUNG. WE TALK LIGHTLY ON THAT. WHAT WE DEAL ON IS MAKING FRIENDS (ENGLISH) ---------------------------------
    As the children get older, the lessons become more specific. 16,17 and 18 year olds learn about safer sex. The life skills curriculum and school books were designed by Unicef, the United Nations children's fund, church groups and other non-governmental organizations.
    The initiative is part of the government programme to combat Aids and has now been integrated into the national curriculum at all schools. A radical move for a conservative country like Zimbabwe.
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    CAPTION: DR EVARISTO MAROWA, NATIONAL AIDS PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATOR AT ZIMBABWE'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE "IF WE DO NOT GIVE THE CHILDREN INFORMATION AT THIS STAGE THAT WE SHOULD RISK LOSING THEM AND RISK EXPOSING THEM TO HIV AND AIDS. SO WE WANT TO EDUCATE THEM, WE WANT TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AS THEY GROW" (ENGLISH) ---------------------------------- By teaching children as young as 10 about HIV and AIDS, Zimbabwe hopes they'll learn the danger of casual relationships before they become sexually active. As they grow older it will be up to them to put the theory into practice.
    When teachers started educating children about Aids, some conservative Zimbabwen parents objected. They thought that the lessons might encourage their children to start having sex.
    12 year old Rita Changra's parents however are quite open about discussing Aids and safer sex with their children and are pleased that their warnings are backed up at school.
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    CAPTION: WINFIELDA CHANGARA, RITA'S MOTHER "THEY ARE TAUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE. IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE BOOKS THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR CHARACTER" (ENGLISH) ------------------------------- Although still only a child herself, Rita seems aware of the potential danger she can face as a teenager.
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    CAPTION: RITA CHANGARA, 12 YEAR OLD STUDENT YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT AIDS BEACAUSE WHEN YOU GROW UP WE MUST LEARN THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DOTHESE THINGS THAT WILL GET US TO GET HIV (ENGLISH) --------------------------------- Unfortunately these young men went to school before Aids awareness was part of the national curriculum. They're all HIV positive and have formed a group not only to give each other counselling and support, but also to go into schools to warn others not to make the same mistakes.
    The Highfields Men's Action group members talk to school children about condoms and try to promote safer sex.
    24 year old Sam Musiyiwa who was infected by his first sexual partner, told us that his school teachers taunted him about being a virgin.
    ------------------------------
    CAPTION: SAM MUSIYIWA, HIGHFIELD MEN'S ACTION GROUP.
    "HE SAID IF YOU ARE NOT ENGAGED IN SEX AT THE AGE OF 15 OR 16 YOU ARE SOMEHOW ABNORMAL" (ENGLISH) ------------------------------ This youth club is also involved in the educational fight against Aids. It's run by the church and aims to persuade teenagers and young adults to abstain from sex outside marriage.
    Baptist minister Noah Pashapa knows that many children feel they can't talk to their parents about sexual matters so he's trying to train young Zimbabweans to act as role models for their younger brothers and sisters.
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    CAPTION: Reverend NOAH PASHAPA, YOUTH IN TOUCH "IF YOU CAN INFLUENCE 1 OUT OF 10 YOUNG PEOPLE TO ADOPT A POSITIVE LIFE AND BECOME AN INFLUENCER, WE CALL THEM INFLUENCERS, AMONG THEIR PEERS YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED" (ENGLISH) ------------------------------- Despite the differing perspectives between the secular and the religious projects, everyone is convinced that changing young peoples perception of Aids is crucial.
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    CAPTION, TENDAI TSOPOTSA, YOUTH CLUB MEMBER "THERE IS A SILLY SAYING THAT SEX WITH A CONDOM YOU ARE EATING A SWEET, YOU KNOW, WRAPPED IN THE PAPER. YOU ARE NOT A MAN (ENGLISH) -------------------------------- In a country where children start having sex at an average age of just 12, parents and teachers face a massive challenge. In spite of traditional objections to discussing sex with the younger generation, Zimabawean educators are are now facing up to the reality of Aids and are proving determined to ensure that yet another generation does not grow up in ignorance.
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