Do more to reduce HIV infections among our vulnerable youth

More needs to be done to curb new HIV infections among the youth. With 61,000 new infections last year alone, the burden on the healthcare system is enormous. Of greater concern though is that the highest rates of infections are among youth aged between 15 and 24 years. The National Aids Control Council (NACC) says this age-group makes up 43 per cent of the new infections, with 26,000 youth testing positive for HIV last year.

It is emerging that despite knowledge of the inherent dangers of unsafe sex, risky behaviour is still prevalent among men. This is happening at a time when huge budgetary cutbacks have reduced HIV awareness campaigns.