Myths surrounding sexual relationships and HIV/AIDS have left our little ones more vulnerable to the disease. One such myth is that if you have sexual intercourse with a virgin then you will automatically be cured of the virus. Utter crap this is. However, there is a second group of people who are just reckless with the lives of teenagers, those popularly known as ‘sugar’ daddies or mama’s. They snatch from the cradle without blinking an eye, before you know it off they go with youngsters old enough to be their grand-children.
Myths surrounding sexual relationships and HIV/AIDS have left our little ones more vulnerable to the disease. One such myth is that if you have sexual intercourse with a virgin then you will automatically be cured of the virus. Utter crap this is.
However, there is a second group of people who are just reckless with the lives of teenagers, those popularly known as ‘sugar’ daddies or mama’s.
They snatch from the cradle without blinking an eye, before you know it off they go with youngsters old enough to be their grand-children.
The ‘sugar’ comes in the goodies the youngsters are showered with, from cell-phones, clothes, you name it some even buy cars.
These uncaring individuals feel safer with vulnerable teens for many reasons, they can control them, but more importantly they know these innocent souls have not been exposed to any of the deadly viruses. Some have politely dubbed this form of child abuse, cross generation sex.
The intervention by the Ministry of Youth, is therefore timely, in dealing with this societal scourge, through the campaign dubbed : ‘Sinigurisha’ (I am not for sale).
The timely campaign launched over the weekend seeks to raise awareness among the youth on the dangers of sexual relations with older people.
This is against a back-ground of damning statistics released by the National Commission for the Fight Against Aids (CNLS), that girls aged 20-24 are five times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys of the same age.
Clearly indicating a gender skewed pattern which works against girls as they seem more vulnerable than their male counterparts; a reflection of the status the girl child holds.
This also calls for targeted awareness raising amongst ignorant parents, who at times see it as a blessing when their girl children date older men who pamper them with gifts.
They have to ask themselves at what cost? These parents should be aware that they are playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette, with their children’s lives.
Such parents should be exposed, including the cradle snatchers, who are everywhere around us by the way.
A hotline should be established to report car registration numbers, etc with these creepy individuals being brought to book.
For now it is Kudos, to the Youth Ministry and partners for taking this campaign heads on.
Ends