A gender activist Lumba Siyanga has attributed the high number of women infected with HIV and AIDS in Zambia to high poverty levels affecting the womenfolk .
Ms. Siyanga, who is also former national coordinator for Forum for African Women Educationist in Zambia (FAWEZA), said the women were the most vulnerable because of their weak status in terms of negotiating for safer sex habits.
She told ZANIS in an interview that reports indicate that Western Province is the most hit province in Zambia because the province is the poorest in the country.
She has since suggested that government and other cooperating partners should find solution of reducing high poverty levels in the country in order to serve the women.
Ms. Siyanga further appealed to government to put deliberate policies which will address poverty especially in the Western part of Zambia.
She stressed that failure to reduce high poverty levels involving women in Zambia, HIV/AIDS will not be reduced.
She pointed out that women do not have power to say no for sex demands from their husbands even in times when a husband is HIV positive.
And Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA) chairperson Felistus Chipako said her organisation will step up information dissemination to the women about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
Ms. Chipako has since called on government, health institutions and other international organisations assisting in the fight against HIV/AIDS to double their efforts if the scourge is to be reduced.
She also stated that the increase in gender based violence and other crimes against women were some of the contributing factors to the high number of women infected with HIV.
Ms. Chipako also said ZAMWA was doing its best to educate women on how to prevent themselves from acquiring HIV /AIDS.
She also attributed the increase in women being infected with the virus to rape and defilement cases which are on the rise in the nation.
Ms. Chipako has meanwhile said ZAMWA has done a commendable job in educating female pupils on the dangers of early sex.
Let us all join hands and protect our women. She is the only God given gift to a man created equally from the lib. Women should also learn to know their rights by reporting sexual harassment to relevant authority. Why should they agree to be infected especially when they know that their partners are infected. The rule is when your partner is infected use a condom always unless in circumstances when the doctor recommends. So whether infected or not always use condoms in the right way especially in circumstances where you don’t know the status of your partner. Also go for regular HIV testing and counseling period.
Sad that poverty continues to exist. Government lacks the vision to deal with it.
Mwalanda bwino…ala tulanyengesha ukwingi ukuti tuleikuta!!
Ngatautombeshe po, kulala nesala yama!!
Nyama Choma
Ingredients:
3 kg beef short ribs or spare ribs Salt and pepper, to taste.
Procedure : Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Grill on a gas or charcoal grill over medium-high heat for 1 hour. Alternatively, roast in the oven at 300°F for 1½ to 2 hours. The meat should be dry and chewy.
Serves 4 to 6.
UBWALI
Ingredients
1 cup milk
1¼ cups cornmeal
1 cup water
Procedure
Pour the milk into a mixing bowl. Slowly add ¾ cup of the cornmeal and whisk constantly into a paste.
Heat the water in a medium saucepan to boiling.
Using a wooden spoon, stir cornmeal and milk paste mixture into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low.
Slowly add the remaining ½ cup of cornmeal, stirring constantly. The mixture should be smooth with no lumps.
Cook for about 3 minutes…