Eagles Lead Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has called for improved access to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases information to minimize the risk of infection among young people.
The NGO’s Executive Director, Peter Ezekiel, made the appeal during a group engagement with teenagers on COVID-19, Sexual and Gender-Related Abuse, and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Kaduna on Monday, March 29, 2021.
Adolescents, according to Ezekiel, must be aware of the dangers of transmission in order to prevent unsafe sexual behaviour and embrace healthy sexual and reproductive health.
“Sexual harassment has been reported in 7-34% of girls and 3-29 per cent of boys,
“Sexual harassment has been reported in 7-34% of girls and 3-29 per cent of boys, Adolescent girls are the most prominent victims of forced sex.
“Sexual harassment can occur inside the household, and it can be committed by a partner, a family member, a friend, or a stranger,” he explained.
He urged parents to teach their children how to practice their right to grow up in a healthy environment free of physical and sexual abuse.
He argues that adolescents are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases than older women because the female genital tract has not fully matured and is biologically more susceptible to STIs.
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“Because females rarely display symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, infections may go untreated, raising the risk of acquisition,” he said.
Adolescents, he claims, often lack basic information about sexually transmitted diseases, including symptoms, transmission, and treatment.
“Adults are also hesitant to discuss STIs and sexual wellbeing with adolescents because they believe adolescents should not be having sex in the first place.
“As a result, the aim of this initiative is for young people to break their silence and begin speaking up about or documenting cases of violence in their communities.
“Older women are biologically more vulnerable to STIs.
“We want to improve the monitoring system and break the silence of community members, as well as avoid COVID-19 infection and other sexually transmitted diseases he said.
Education as a Vaccine (EVA) and the African Network of Adolescent and Young Persons Advancement are supporting the UNFPA initiative (ANAND).
The project aims to educate about COVID-19, Gender-Related Abuse, and Sexual Reproductive Health in about ten communities in Kaduna North and Kaduna South LGAs.
