SHOCKING new statistics reveal South Africa has taken the world lead with 2 500 new HIV infections weekly amongst adolescent females ranging from 14 to 24 years of age, with KZN once again foremost in the numbers.
And blame has firmly been placed on the ‘blesser’ phenomenon.
‘In a province already facing many high risk factors, this appalling plague has taken over our communities,’ said Rhana Naicker, CEO of King Goodwill Zwelethini’s Bayede Foundation, which co-hosted the 21st International Aids conference in Durban last week.
‘Young and old men calling themselves ‘blessers’ entice our adolescent girls with purchases of airtime, clothing, shoes, jewellery and cell phones.
‘One blesser infects as many as 15 girls a week, sometimes out of the same school.
‘Girls are finding innovative ways of pleasing them and at his behest do not condomise to practise safe sex, much to their detriment.
‘Such behaviour has caused an alarming escalation with new infections, high teenage pregnancies and botched abortions and has had a global impact on the fight against this disease,’ said Naicker.
The blesser phenomenon falls under the categories of prostititution and human trafficking as it is illegal to exchange sex for favours.
Unite to stop them
‘What they are doing is negating many of the gains we have made.
‘We applaud South Africans for their huge contributions in the fight against HIV and acknowledge coming a long way in the battle against the dreaded disease, by boasting the largest ARV programme in the world.
‘Another success story is the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV where the percentage of newborn children infected with HIV has decreased significantly from 8% in 2008 to 1.5 % in 2015.
‘Working towards an Aids free generation was the challenge posed to communities globally.’
Of the conference, Naicker reported: ‘The new target of 90-90-90 by 2030 means that 90% of the population should know their status, of which 90% should be on treatment and hopefully would lead to a 90% suppressed viral load.
‘This is an achievable and realistic target.
‘Aids is a way of life, so get tested, know your status and get on treatment. Improve your lifestyle and practice safe sex, thus preventing new infections.
‘As an Aids activist, I urge all women to mobilise and strategise on how to protect our young girls against these blessers.
‘Only if we work together can we beat these and sugar daddies.’
Email info@BayedeFoundation.org or call on 061 4399281 for more details.
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