Street kids get sex education

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THE Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) says children living on the streets of Gweru are now able to access sexual and reproductive health facilities at the Youth Friendly Corner situated at the Gweru District Hospital.

THE Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) says children living on the streets of Gweru are now able to access sexual and reproductive health facilities at the Youth Friendly Corner situated at the Gweru District Hospital.

STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT

ZNFPC acting Midlands provincial marketing and communications officer Karen Shiri said more street children were thronging the Youth Friendly Corner to access sexual and reproductive health facilities.

“They get information on how to protect themselves and desist from engaging in sexual behaviours that put them at risk of HIV infection,” Shiri said.

She said studies had shown that children living on the streets were more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections as they lacked information on reproductive health.

Most of them suffered silently while others had turned to drugs and prostitution. Shiri said the youth corner provided street children detergents and soap to ensure they could maintain some level of cleanliness.

Zimbabwe has over the years been grappling with the challenge of rehabilitating children living on the streets as more and more of them turn to the streets as a result of being orphaned or abused by care givers.

Some leave home to escape economic pressures.