About 16/17 years ago, the world started rolling out prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) and so what we had was a situation were suddenly these young babies that were dying from HIV, were now no longer becoming infected from HIV because of ZDV and NVP, and that means that those young babies there now growing up and reaching their teens and so we’ve got this bulge now of additional teens coming into the population. It’s sad in a way that all that effort we took to protect these babies from getting HIV, now only for them to get HIV when there in their adolescent. That includes listening to young people and communities, making sure services are available away from clinics in communities and schools, supporting provinces in service provision, and elevating prevention and treatment for young people

Empowering the young people of our country cannot be overemphasised. The high levels of unemployment are shocking even when the natural resources are evidently more than the population. This programme is trying to educate the youth about the ABC (Abstinence, Be Faithful, and if not at least use a Condom).  This programme focuses on what individuals themselves can do to change (or maintain) behaviour, and thereby avoid or reduce risk of infection.

Abstinence – Abstain from sex before marriage or delay as long as you can. Abstinence is always 100 percent effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when practiced by an individual.

Be faithful – Once you marry, be faithful to one person only – your spouse. You are less likely to become HIV infected if you reduce the number of sexual partners you have. Having many sexual partners prior to marriage does not reduce the failure rates for marriage.

Condoms – Giving kids condoms only serves to promote promiscuity and pressures them to have sex rather than abstain. It breaks down the moral values! We do not promote the teaching of condom use to children; we promote Character-building which is based on good VALUES and MORALS.

 A UNAIDS – commissioned 2004 review of evidence for condom use concluded “There are no definite examples yet of generalised epidemics that have been turned back by prevention programs based primarily on condom promotion”.