SOCIAL workers attached to Child Welfare in King William’s Town have staged a successful awareness campaign during National Condom Week to educate communities about the importance of safer sex.
Their campaign started last Monday in Berlin, shifted to Breidbach and Sweetwaters Clinics on Tuesday, that was followed by a presentation at Ginsberg clinic on Wednesday, before concluding at the Breidbach Secondary school on Thursday.
Social worker Nyasha Kausi said their campaign raised awareness among sexually active youth – and adults – about the importance of adequate protection to minimise chances of disease, unwanted pregnancies, especially teenage pregnancies.
“We are doing presentations on how to use a condom during these campaigns and many people are sexually active, yet they are shy to open up when it comes to the use of protection,” Kausi said.
Msuthukazi Ntonga who accompanied the delegation, described the awareness campaign as one of the most necessary events that the community at large needed.
“Our teenagers are not informed well on these issues and end up being exposed to so much like STIs [sexually transmitted diseases] and unwanted pregnancies, which jeopardise their futures,” Ntonga said.
Our theme for the week is: “I am responsible for my sexual and reproductive health”.
Her colleague, Ntombifikile Sam, did a presentation on how to use a condom and spoke on the dangers of unprotected sex, and how to discard a condom after sex. Clinic committee member and Beyond Zero official, Frank Walters, also shared some valuable tips on other health issues.
Clinic operational manager Sister Yoliswa Qamba also added to the topic and encouraged the audience to consult their local clinic on any clarity concerning the valuable information shared.
Community member, Wendy Lawrence, commended the delegation for the informative session and made a request to them to visit schools where most of the youth are.
