For the first time, national and regional decision-makers from health and education in Eastern and Southern Africa are joining together to review young people’s sexual health needs and concerns and mobilise political commitment, investment and intensified action across 21 countries in the ESA region. YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY, TIME TO ACT NOW has the potential to change the course of the HIV epidemic in
the Eastern and Southern Africa and make quality sexuality education and youth-friendly health services a reality to young people. Some of the challenges young people face:
Currently, every hour, an estimated 50 young people, mostly women, become infected with HIV. Eastern and Southern Africa is world’s most affected region with 430,000 new infections each year among young people aged 15-24 with an estimated 2.6 million other young people living with HIV. Other challenges:
Less than 40% of young people know basic information about HIV; key health services are often withheld from adolescents and young people due to their age, their marital and/or legal status; teenage pregnancy rates remain high with 20% of young women having given birth by the age of 17 in a number of countries. Early pregnancy contributes to high drop-out rates from education and poses a serious threat to the health of adolescent girls including high rates of maternal death. In addition, sexual or gender-based violence affects 35% of young women in the region.
“It is time for urgent action by our governments, young people and civil society to re-affirm the rights of young people to a better future. We have a duty to make good quality HIV and sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services a reality for all.” Professor Sheila Tlou, Director of UNAIDS Regional Support. Working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), the campaign aims to get the region’s Ministers of Health and Education to pledge firm support to a “Commitment” of bold action and leadership in support of their youth populations. This commitment-building process will culminate in a high level meeting on 7 December 2013, bringing together the 42 ministers at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Cape Town, South Africa. To support the campaign or for more information: www.youngpeopletoday.net. The campaign represents a partnership of: UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, EAC, SADC, the Ford Foundation, the Swedish Government, the Church of Sweden, IPPF, INERELA+ and NORAD as well as civil society organisations, adolescents and young people across the world.
