Africa-Press – Lesotho. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Lesotho will host a series of events to highlights the need for access to age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) through the launch of their campaign called “#ProtectTheChild”. This is the continuation of commemoration of the International Day of the African Child (DAC). The day was earmarked on June 16 1991 by the Organisation of African Unity to honour those who
participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976. It also raises awareness on the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
As such, the campaign is essential for preventing HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancies among adolescents and young people across Sub Saharan Africa. It is in response to the pushback and contention that often plague conversations and implementation around CSE, mainly from governments, parents, teachers, and religious leaders because it is believed to encourage sexual activity.
In an interview with Informative Newspaper, AHF Country Program Manager ‘Mapaballo Mile said they worked with ministry of education to ensure that students are taught about CSE. She said they learnt that teachers are not comfortable with schooling the programme, so the “#ProtectTheChild” campaign will mitigate that challenge.
Mile said they are working closely with Seilatsatsi, a mentorship program offered by volunteer young professionals advocating for the reproductive and sexual health rights of women and girls in Lesotho and young women and girls empowerment with emphasis on building resilience, self-esteem, including provision of vocational trainingm and entrepreneurship skills. Mile also added that the purpose of engaging Seilatsatsi is to forge partnership with the like-minded organisations because they give a platform for fruitful future engagements for both short and long term results According to the AHF press release the AHF‘s African Bureau Chief Dr.
Penninah Lutung said “The notion that implementing CSE programs encourages sexual activity or promiscuity is flawed and not grounded in science because evidence shows otherwise. Besides, CSE covers wide-ranging areas beyond sex that are vital for positive physical and emotional development, such as abstinence, gender equality, and human rights, GBV, Sexual Reproductive Health, HIV and STIs, among others”.
Dr. Lutung added that this campaign is timely and aligns closely with DAC‘s 202 theme of ”Eliminating Harmful Practices that affect Children“ also it is their call-to-action to the African community on the need to work together to ensure that adolescents and young people everywhere have access to age-appropriate CSE that can empower them to make informed protective choices and meaningfully contribute to national development.
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