Don’t insist on sexual cleansing, women advised
By ALEX NJOVU
FIFTEEN traditional leaders have advised women to stop insisting on sexual cleansing without using protection because it contributes to the spread of HIV and AIDS.
And Kitwe district commissioner McDonald Mtine has advised traditional leaders to discourage practices which contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The chiefs complained that their efforts to reduce HIV infections are being hampered by women insisting that they must be sexually cleansed without protection when their husbands die.
The traditional leaders were speaking at a National AIDS Council (NAC) workshop for women traditional leaders at Edinburgh Hotel in Kitwe yesterday.
Chieftainess Mulongwe of Samfya said she is concerned that some women believe that their prospects of remarrying are threatened if they are not sexually cleansed.
She said women, especially those in rural areas, demand to be sexually cleansed when they are widowed.
“Women are to blame for the high rate of HIV infection in women because they refuse to be cleansed using other methods. They go for sexual cleansing when they are widowed. They believe that they may not get married if they are not properly cleansed. As traditional leaders, we have tried our best to discourage our subjects, but they insist on sexual cleansing,” she said.
Chieftainess Malembeka of the Lamba people of Masaiti said it is unfortunate that the use of condoms during sexual cleansing is traditionally unacceptable.
She said sexual cleansing must be discouraged because the practice fuels the spread of HIV and AIDS in some rural areas.
Chieftainess Malembeka said there are methods of cleansing other than sexual cleansing which women should be encouraged to use.
“The problem is that when a condom is used to sexually cleanse a woman who is widowed, it is not cleansing, Tradition does not recognise that. This is a real problem, which needs to be addressed. Our women need information to help them make informed decisions when it matters most,” Chieftainess Malembeka said.
And Chieftainess Chungu of Luwingu district said it is sad that women lack vital information on such important issues.
She commended NAC for organising a workshop for traditional leaders to sensitise them on traditional practices that contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Chieftainess Shimukunami of the Lamba people of Lufwanyama said traditional leaders will continue working with Government through NAC to ensure that they promote practices which prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
And opening the workshop Mr Mtine said Government realises that it cannot fighting HIV and AIDS alone and has adopted a multi-sectoral approach to fight the pandemic.
”I appeal to you to lead by example in resolving HIV/AIDS related problems in our chiefdoms. Let us not engage in risky behaviour which promotes the spread of HIV/AIDS,” he said.
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