Creating safe spaces for girls to thrive

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) South Africa joined the global celebration of International Day of the Girl this October with a series of community events across four provinces.

- STAFF REPORTER

GIRLS join a 5km hike and fireside chats at Rietvlei Farm Zoo in Gauteng during AHF South Africa's International Day of the Girl celebration. ADOLESCENT girls take part in a sip-and-paint picnic at Mitchell Park in Morningside. GIRLS from Emalahleni take part in AHF South Africa's International Day of the Girl celebration at the LoveLife Youth Centre, where discussions focused on health, education and empowerment.

(Supplied)

International Day of the Girl, commemorated annually on October 11, focuses on promoting girls’ rights and addressing challenges they face. AHF South Africa joined other AHF programmes worldwide to help protect girls from HIV, celebrate their accomplishments, amplify their voices advocate for policies that safeguard girls’ health and futures.

Despite progress, adolescent girls and young women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of global health inequities, particularly when it comes to HIV. Every week, 4 000 young women aged 15 to 24 become newly infected with HIV, more than 3,300 of them in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2023, 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women were living with HIV, compared to 1.2 million boys and young men of the same age.