Economic strain fuels HIV rise in women - expert
A medical specialist has linked rising HIV
infections among young women to social and economic factors.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has raised concerns over a surge in infections among young women.
Byanyima was in South Africa last week toassess the impact of significant funding cuts, including from the US government’s PEPFAR programme.
Medical expert Dr Angelique Coetzee said young women aged 15 to 24 are three to four times more likely to contract HIV than their male peers.
” The woman becomes sort of a taker without the option of asking for the condom, which is very sad, and some exchange sex for money, food, or school fees because of our poverty,” said Coetzee.
READ: UNAIDS warns of rising HIV risk for young women
“There's also not enough access to education, especially around sexual health. What is your right and prevention method?”
Coetzee said the healthcare system must be strengthened to better tackle HIV, especially among vulnerable groups.
" We need to invest in community-based healthcare. Community health workers are critical for linking vulnerable people to services. They are sort of the in-between, the go-between getting the medication and taking it to the community," she said.
ALSO READ: HIV researcher warns US funding cuts ‘catastrophic’
"We need to combine the HIV and sexual reproductive health and TB care to streamline access.
"There are not enough public-private partnerships where we work with NGOs and local groups in those communities. Let’s work together."
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