I am responding to the concerns of a guest writer, Ambrose Nuwagira of the Campus Alliance to Wipe out Aids (CAWA) (The New Vision of Wednesday, January 24). His stance on the ABC message on HIV, which he thinks is causing much confusion, was merely idealistic.
Although he presents genuine concerns over the increasing HIV rates, he should have done well showing the advantages of the condom rather than discrediting it completely. His organisation is well-known for intentionally promoting AB and not C because of its principles of operation and ideology.
This, however, does not mean CAWA should appear to be the alpha and omega in determining people’s sex lives. I do not know how much research they have conducted among campus students whom it targets with its behaviour change programmes. But common sense has it that, at this level. this is when young people who have been abstaining for the rest of their lives, want to try dating.
I wish Ambrose could give us evidence of messages they give to students who are in sexually-active relationships, but are faithful to their partners, who I am sure are another lot. Do you chase them from your workshops or meetings?
Let us face facts. If such sexually- active students do not want to have babies while at campus, which family planning method would you recommend for them? The problem is that we always assume that what we preach is what people will adopt in their bedrooms or dark corners.
I do not condone sexual activity for young people, but realistically speaking, many out there consciously or not, find themselves trying it out because there is no conventional law that prescribes at what age people should start having sex or marry, save for the minors below 18 and the Bible which permits only sex in marriage.
We need to research and observe the categories of behaviour of our target audiences and design messages that suit all these categories, no matter how much time it takes. Condoms have undoubtedly played a big role in controlling new HIV infections, re-infections and most importantly, as a family planning method to sexually-active young people and adults, who are not ready to have babies.
How I wish CAWA could come to realise this reality and incorporate condom-use in their messages. For sure, one thing that will kill us silently is religious fanaticism, where we continue preaching the ideal and forget the reality.
The writer works with the
Straight Talk Foundation
Opinion was idealistic on ABC message
