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By Marlvin Ngiza
Health systems should prioritize giving comprehensive access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services (SRHR) to adolescence if the war against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents is to be won.
This comes after the Constitutional Court ruling on moving the age of consent was raised from 16 to 18 years of age.
Friends For Child Development Director, Taurai Karambakuwa told Spiked Online Media that the development might negatively impact the fight against HIV infections among adolescents if not implemented with caution.
He stressed the need for Zimbabwe health systems to put in place appropriate procedures that will deal with adolescents who need medical services.
“The Constitutional ruling of setting the age of consent at 18 could have a negative impact on the fight against the spread of HIV among adolescents as they will not have free access to SRHR services.
“The health service sector would require to put in place standard operating procedures on how to deal with pre-18 boys and girls who require medical services,” said Karambakuwa
Shamwari Yemwanasikana Advocacy and Influence Coordinator, Rudo Magwanyata said the issue of HIV, being the 50% cause of deaths among young people, remains a cause of concern hence the need for sexual reproductive health services to be easily accessible.
Magwanyata added that if the move is not exercised with caution, there might be a spike in HIV infections among adolescents.
“It is unfortunate that as we celebrate the new age of consent, the issue at hand in our country of teenage pregnancies and HIV being the 50% cause of death among young people remains a huge cause of concern. We can not turn a blind eye to this. In as much as the age of consent has been set at a higher age, we have minors indulging in sexual activities. We have inter-generational relationships happening due to different driving factors. Therefore, sexual exploitation among young people is common. We might record an increase in new HIV infections.
“Our health system needs to accommodate adolescents by making sure that they have access to SRHR services. We need to have adolescents getting medical attention as this will help assist in alleviating teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections. If possible, we need a system that makes it possible for healthcare service providers to alert law enforcement agents or social workers to assist in apprehending perpetrators who prey on minors,” said Magwanyata.
The ruling nullifies Section 22 of the Marriage Act which sets 16 years as the legal age of consent.