AIDs/HIV are growing rapidly in Zambia. The growth seems to be
growing significantly among women and young girls. Women and adolescent girls are socially,
culturally and biologically more vulnerable for HIV/AIDs. Why is this?
How can this be controlled?
Women who are HIV-infected face more discrimination than men who are
infected, resulting in little help and little prevention to stop the growth of
these diseases. Many women and young
girls are being infected from men who unknowing transmit HIV. It is very common for men to have many sexual
partners, increasing the chance of spreading the disease. However, some men do have sexual relations
knowing about their disease and unfortunately, those they infect are young
girls, often virgins. It is a false
belief that having sex with a virgin can cure AIDs.
WHO advocates: “Interventions
must be aimed at men (as well as at women) if women are to be protected.’’ Men find their masculinity and strength by
taking risks and being tough while women are expected to be innocent and submissive
to men. The men’s carelessness and
self-proving actions are making the lives of many women miserable. These double standards result in the high
increase vulnerability to HIV.
It is important to recognize these harmful gender roles that are
increasing the spread of HIV. This is a
disease that is taking the lives of many.
It is a disease that does not discriminate against race, gender, nor
age. It infects and it kills.
Hannah Bay Snider
9/10/13
11:51 am
http://allafrica.com/stories/201309100957.html
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