Chama District in Eastern Province has witnessed a surge in the number of HIV/AIDS infections.
Chama District HIV/AIDS Co-ordination Advisor Daniel Thole has attributed this to the mushrooming of guest houses some of which are being used as brothels.
Mr. Thole said the situation has been compounded by an influx of businessmen and women that have thronged the area to trade in rice and other commodities.
He said young people between the ages of 15 and 35 have fallen prey to the traders who offer colossal sums of money for casual sex.
Mr. Thole told ZANIS in an interview that this has subsequently resulted into a rise in the number of young and productive people dying from the pandemic.
He however said the Chama District HIV/AIDS Co-ordination Advisor has embarked on a vigorous sensitization campaign to educate the people in the area on the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Thole has since appealed to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS to extend their services to rural parts of the country in a bid to clamp down on the disease.
ZANIS
The amounts used in exchange for casual sex are not colossal, most of these people will sell their souls for beer, a meal or even ice cream.
Strange that this news comes out today when on BBc radio 4 and bbc africa website says the spread of HIV in sub saharan africa is because of homosexuals . hmm
Thole-funny name.
Bad news all around. – What a wretched place Zambia has become!
What colossal? you think someone in Chama will paid big monies for the act? don’t say colossal…these traders take advantage of the ignorance present in the area. Can someone tell ZANIS to stop using the the term colossal and instead say cheap change..
The most important point to make is that AIDS did not happen by accident.
AIDS is the perfect biological weapon.
This is a very sad situation for the rural area. Sensitisation programmes should be extended to such areas. Most NGOs concentrate on town areas because of big numbers for the purposes of reporting to the donors, but for the sake of saving lives, lets look at the impact of such programmes. If there is any one with such help I am willing to be part of the team
Masturbation should be encouraged, it’s not Taboo.
HIV is a nasty disease. Once you get it, there is no cure for it. Safe sex and abstinence is the only way to avoid getting it.
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