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Herald Reporter
Economic empowerment of the youth coupled with responsible sexual behaviour is critical in the fight against the HIV and Aids pandemic, a senior Government official has said.Health and Child Welfare Permanent Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji told The Herald in an interview that economic empowerment enabled the youths to achieve financial independence and make decisions about their sexuality.
His remarks vindicate the importance of Zanu-PF indigenisation and economic empowerment policies in the fight against the deadly pandemic. “Empowered young people have an important role to play in securing the country’s future,’’ Dr Gwinji said. “Youth empowerment and positive behavioural change can help create economic growth through the presence of a healthy and gainfully employed pool of young people.”
Without economic empowerment, he said, the country would continue to lose young people through the HIV and Aids pandemic.
HIV and Aids affects various sectors such as employment, social relations, education and economic growth. Health experts say the youths are the one most affected by the pandemic which endangers their role in economic development.
Zanu-PF has over the years repeatedly challenged the youths to avoid being mere spectators in the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive but to be players and champions of the programme.
Online Reporter