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80 percent of all young HIV infected persons are female
Zimonline
August 06, 2004

http://www.zimonline.co.za/downloads.asp?ID=139

HARARE - Gender inequality is fuelling HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, with women making up 80 percent of all young people infected by the disease, the United Nations (UN) said in a report on the epidemic released in Harare on Thursday.

According to the report, women and girls in Zimbabwe are more at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS because of poverty, lower self esteem and a tendency of young girls to have sexual relationships with older men. Sexual violence against women also puts them more at risk of catching the deadly disease that is presently killing more than 2 000 Zimbabweans every week.

The report entitled 'Facing the Future Together' was compiled by a 27-member UN Taskforce on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS that visited Zimbabwe and nine other Southern African countries in September 2003.

To reduce infection rates among women, the UN says girls should be kept in school for much longer and that more be done to curb domestic violence. The organisation also said that treatment should be made available to all citizens suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Commenting on the UN report, Harare-based HIV/AIDS activist Sophie Dilmitis said most young women had very little information about reproductive health or how and where to access health facilities.

Dilmitis, who teaches young boys and girls about HIV/AIDS, said: "It's very important that when talking to young people about HIV and AIDS, we send out balanced messages (on prevention and treatment facilities)."

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