UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has expressed deep concern over the growing number of HIV infections in young women, especially in South Africa.
Her recent visit to the country highlighted the damaging effects of major funding cuts, including reductions from the US government’s PEPFAR program.
Medical expert Dr. Angelique Coetzee explained that young women aged 15 to 24 are three to four times more likely to get HIV than boys of the same age.
She pointed out that poverty forces many young women into risky situations, such as exchanging sex for money, food, or school fees. This leaves them with little power to insist on protection like condoms.
“There is also a lack of education about sexual health, including knowledge about rights and prevention methods,” Dr. Coetzee added.
To fight this problem, Dr. Coetzee stressed the need to strengthen healthcare systems, especially for vulnerable groups. She emphasized the importance of community health workers who connect people to medical services and deliver medications directly to communities.
She also called for better integration of HIV, sexual reproductive health, and tuberculosis care to make services easier to access. Finally, Dr. Coetzee urged more public-private partnerships involving NGOs and local groups to work together in affected communities.
The rising HIV rates among young women show the urgent need for sustained funding, education, and community-based healthcare solutions.
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