Minister of State For Provincial Affairs, Oliver Chidawu says he is concerned about new HIV infections among the youth especially considering the 610 000 that were recorded in the Zimbabwe Demographic Healthy Survey ZDHS of 2016.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of 100 bicycles to Brotha 2 Brotha mentors for National AIDS Council in Harare yesterday, Minister Chidawu said the bicycles were handed over so as to empower young boys and to educate them on HIV AIDS.
“It gives me great pleasure and honor to officiate at this occasion the official hand-over of 100 bicycles to the Brotha 2 Brotha mentors from the National AIDS Council Harare province in support of empowering young boys in sexual and reproductive health issues,” said Chidawu.
Furthermore, Chidawu said young people are lagging behind in terms of HIV knowledge.
“Young people are lagging behind as compared to other population groups in terms of HIV knowledge including young men.
“HIV infection among young women predominantly comes from young men according to ZIMPHIA 2016,” Chidawu said.
Moreover, Chidawu said the goal is to groom the adolescents’ boys into responsible men.
“The goal is to groom the adolescents boys into responsible men, reduce HIV incidence, gender based violence(GBV) as well as foster leadership and create capable young men who are gender sensitive and contribute towards creating a better Zimbabwe,” added Chidawu.
Chidawu added that they are moving to towards ending HIV and AIDS by 2030.
“Through the provision of these bicycles it eases mobility within their area of operation as we are moving towards ending AIDS by 2030,”Chidawu said.
Brotha 2 Brotha mentors lead the mentorship groups for adolescent boys aged 10-24years,who are usually left out of most Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) programs.
The clubs offer safe, youth friendly comprehensive HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information through a sport centered intervention