Massive Youth March for HIV Prevention

10,000 people, mostly youths, will march for HIV prevention in King Williams Town on 15 June. They will be demanding comprehensive life-skills education and condoms in schools. 

Photo courtesy of The Argus

Date: 15 June, 2006
Time: 10am to 12pm
Meeting point: Zone 1 Taxi Rank, Zwelitsha

Memo to be handed over to Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Mkhangeli Matomela.

Over 10% of youths aged 15-24 are HIV-positive in South Africa. Nearly half have had sex by the age of 19. (Source: RHRU) TAC believes that life-skills education (including sex education, gender and human rights education, and the science of HIV prevention and treatment) as well as condoms in schools are necessary to reverse the HIV epidemic amongst youth. In contrast to a popular myth, there is no evidence that condoms promote sex. The challenge is to develop a culture where condoms are always used for sex. Making condoms available in schools, coupled with life-skills education, will help create this culture, reduce new HIV infections and save lives. 

For comment, contact: 
Phillip Mokoena – 082 819 7686; 
Nokhwezi Hoboyi – 072 0644 157; 
Masizole Gonyela – 078 319 0449