Why finish school when your life can be financed by a sugar daddy? Oh, maybe because there’s a chance that he will impregnate you.

That’s what has been happening in various areas of South Africa, and now Health Minister Aaron Matsoaledi is on a mission to wean girls off their sugar daddies.

As if we don’t have other issues to worry about, the R3 billion campaign was made possible by foreign donor organisations and government departments.

The minister says the three-year campaign, starting next month, will target the 15 to 24 age group, as well as the men who are infecting and impregnating them.

“[This is] because we found that, on the socio-behavioural front, their chances of getting HIV/Aids are eight times more than of boys of the same age group.”

The campaign not only aims to reduce pregnancy, but also reduce infections, keep girls in school until matric and increase economic opportunities for them so they are not drawn into relationships with older men.

I hope they will be focusing on the younger girls, too, so that instead of trying to change a mind set on the easy way out, they instil values of hard work and success. Probably not.

[source: ewn]