Mashatile calls on the public to protect children against predators
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on South Africans to take extra ordinary measures to protect children against immoral predators.
A Human Sciences Research Council study revealed that HIV prevalence increased among teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19.
Mashatile says this is an indication that older men engage in unprotected sexual activities with young girls.
"We must ensure that children have a safe environment to discuss issues that influence their sexual conduct and the pressures they are under".
"We must stand with them and educate them about their rights and sexual health".
Speaking in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council, in KwaZulu Natal on Friday , Mashatile said the lack of access to HIV treatment by children who are HIV positive, remains their deepest concern.
In December 2020, UNAIDS released a new set of ambitious targets calling for 95% of all people living with HIV to know their HIV status, 95% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy to have viral suppression by 2025.
Mashatile says though South Africa failed to reach its 90 90 90 target for 2020, he is confident that they will meet the target set for 2025.
"We are confident that we will meet the 95 95 95 targets for December 2025, and be well on our way to fulfilling our commitments towards agenda 2030. In this regard we launched the new strategic national plan for 2023/2028 earlier this year, this plan places people and communities at the centre of our efforts to overcome inequities in the country's response to HIV," he said.
Mashatile further called on communities to actively participate in strategic interventions to combat the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
"This year's theme "Let communities lead", urges all of us as stakeholders and communities to redouble our efforts and invest in community led interventions and community centred approaches in responding to the HIV epidemic.
"This theme also encourages communities to address inequalities such as poverty, discrimination and inadequate access to services particularly for vulnerable communities like women, transgender persons, sex workers, people living with disabilities and children".
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