The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
IN response to the upsurge in cases of sexual violence especially to young girls, National Aids Council has embarked on a three-day awareness campaign aimed at equipping teenagers with information to mitigate sexual violence.
In Mutare alone, statistics for 2015 indicate that there was a significant increase in cases of sexual violence from 278 in 2014 to 561 in 2015.
The increase translates to 33.8 percent when comparing the two periods.
In a document compiled by Mutare Rural District Aids co-ordinator, Mr Willard Mudzikati ahead of the three-day tour, he said it was worrying to note that cases of sexual violence also transcends to more cases of school dropouts.
“It is more worrying to note cases of the positivity rate rose from 1.8 percent to 2.7 percent in 2015. Data also confirmed that farming communities have high school dropout rates.
“The above described problems cannot go unchecked and hence sexual violence awareness campaigns are needed. Sexual violence is a multifaceted problem which needs a combination of interventions,” reads part of the document.
The document further notes that sexual hot spots areas are Chiwere catchment area in Mutare Rural where there was an increase of Form Four teenage pregnancy cases in 2015.
“This significant increase needs relevant interventions. Information gathered from community caregivers also indicates the presence of risk sexual behaviours including the phenomenon known as “pasa pasa” where hired entertainers are brought in the area including hired sex workers,” reads the document.
Among the objectives of the awareness campaign include equipping learners with basic and accurate information on HIV and Aids to sensitise learners of sexual violence and preventive strategies especially reporting on time, to identify factors associated with an increase in teenage pregnancy, to offer comprehensive psycho-social support to identified cases of sexual violence as well as to improve knowledge levels on PEP services.
