HIV/AIDS: From Alabama to Africa Part 4
by Sherri Jackson
CBS 42 News
2007-11-01 19:56:04.0
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In our continuing coverage of AIDS from Alabama to Africa we now examine what's happening with the youth here at home and in Bomet, Kenya where I recently traveled to bring you a first hand look at efforts being made to fight HIV/AIDS by educating young people about sex.
"We are seeing more teenagers who are positive who were behaviorally affected because of lifestyle choices they have made," said Becky Armstrong with the Family Clinic at Children’s Hospital.
Choices some say are rooted in a sexualized world. The harsh reality is that 95% of all HIV infection around the world is through heterosexual contact.
"Many times when sex is advertised in the media there is only one aspect of it advertised so sex appears to be a recreational activity with not consequences," said Pastor David Burroughs of Yeah Ministries.
Burroughs is with Pure Passion and Yeah Ministries, a movement to empower youth around the world to choose abstinence giving people reasons why they should wait.
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“It's interesting no matter where you go the issues seem to be the same when it comes to young people. In the Bahamas we're dealing with sexual issues in the United States we are dealing with sexual issues," said Burroughs.
Those same sexual issues exist in Africa especially when it comes to the transmission of HIV. In Arusha, Tanzania I met and talked with Elizabeth Mosha who has a program called Women in Action that serves widows and children affected by HIV. Part of that service is talking about sex.
"In the African culture parents don't talk to their children about sex," said Mosha.
What's being taught about sex in Kenya at Tenwek Hospital's community development and education program is something called Why Wait. A room is filled with teachers who will take the message to their students.
Becky Armstrong has seen parents who have been notified that their child is HIV positive because of sexual contact; in one case as young as 13.
"These kids aren't doing anything different than a lot of teenagers are doing many are sexually active. I think the message is it would really be best for you to wait, the safest sex is no sex until you are older, but if you do you need to be prepared use condoms," said Armstrong.
Condoms abound at a fashion show at the Fairfield Community Center. Stylist Ryan Christopher chose this venue to address the rapid emergence of HIV among young African Americans.
Pastor Gary Brown lobbies for funding for abstinence programs in the U.S. His message is that young people are not doomed to contracting AIDS. He says this about yeah ministries.
"It gives young people the power to say I don't have to have AIDS or sexually transmitted disease of have a premature pregnancy," said Brown.
The numbers of young people who are HIV positive now live much longer than they did 26 years ago when AIDS emerged.
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