Okay, so you might be sick and tired of hearing about HIV/AIDS but how many young people out there really care more for their own and their loved ones’ lives than sex? Even if you only cared about your own health that would make a huge difference to the statististics.It would mean one less person engaging in irresponsibile sexual behaviour.

So, I come from a time when showing your bra straps, and other bits of underwear was disrespectful. If you wore a see-through blouse, you were definitely a tart. For a young man, if your pants hung just a little below where it should be, you were called a “skollie.” We were not allowed to see nudity in advertising or movies.

Nowadays, however,young ladies show their underwear in public and so do young men. What people don’t realise, is that these little things stimulate the minds of young people to focus more on their bodies and of course, sex.  Young people are sexually over-stimulated. While this may be fun, you are not engaging in constructive activities and worse, your lifestyle is not improving.

Young people now, are far more sexually active than ever before but along with this goes an escalation of teen pregnancies, school drop-out rate and sexually transmitted diseases. Our community is becoming a cesspool of unemployed, sick young people with more mouths to feed. All of this puts a drain on an entire struggling community. It weakens us economically and lessens people’s chances of being gainfully employed.

Medication and hospitalisation are expensive as are funerals. Can you afford this?

I’d like to motivate young people to consider these facts. Delay sex until you can afford to feed and maintain another human being. Look at your parents and do something different. Have positive goals such as completing matric, obtaining a diploma or degree. Save enough money to buy your own house, before you buy a car. Find work you have a passion for and turn it into a career. Develop your talents. Make every effort to have just one sexual partner. The more sexual partners you have, the higher your risk of infection. Do not depend on condoms to keep you safe. Depend on your own self-respect.

Young ladies, young men are cruel. They will say, “I love you,” simply to get you to agree to have sex. Before you know it, you are pregnant and he has moved onto the next stupid fool who believes that sex is love. He will offer gifts to demonstrate his love, but once you are pregnant, he will have nothing to do with you. Aside from the shame and guilt, you will be left to feed and raise the little one.

What if he’s infected you with a sexually transmitted disease? Where does that leave you?

Young people, I urge you to think twice. Sex is not more important than your health.

Remember, no sex, no AIDS.

For more information go to the library and find books on Aids. Education is power. Stay in school as long as possible and be as educated as you can possibly be.

I want to challenge you. What is your dream and what do you want to achieve?

Recommended reading: The autobiography of Abraham Lincoln, Long walk to freedom.

Recommended viewing: The blindside – Currently on circuit