Harare — Looking around and seeing the number of young girls who are falling pregnant as well as the large number of unplanned and unwanted babies that people have, at times adults, who society expects to know better, show that there is need for more work to be done around educating each other about the importance of safe practices.

Discussing reproductive health issues with friends on the sidelines of a population and development media network organised by the UNFPA in Gweru recently some journalists asked: "Should we start giving condoms to our youths in schools and colleges?"

Of course, this drew gasps of disbelief and howls of protest from everyone in the group who agreed that this would not happen in this country in a hundred years for it meant saying to the youths "it is okay, you can go ahead and have sex, as long as you use condoms".

Also policy says it is wrong, and indeed it may as well be wrong.

That is the dilemma we find ourselves in as parents, as teachers, as programmers, activists and policymakers. There are moral issues we have to consider each time we think of sex.

It is such moral issues which make it virtually impossible for a married woman to pack condoms for a husband or to even decide to wear condoms in her marital home even when she feels she is not safe.

That woman may fail to protect herself because of the implications of even bringing a condom into the home. It is agreed that condoms are one proven way of reducing the risk of HIV transmission but how far are we or can we go in ensuring that those who indulge in sex have access to them and other reproductive health facilities such as contraceptives?

I would like to advise every young person who has not yet started having sex to remain virgins until they are adult enough to cope with the responsibilities such an action brings with it. This includes going for an HIV test with the partner they have chosen to marry and protecting themselves all the time when they are not sure of their partner's status. I know for a fact that for some of our young people, it is too late to preach abstinence because they have already broken the chastity belt.

There are so many young people who are having sex and without protection, too. All one has to do is see the number of young pregnancies around us.

Even some school-going children are indulging in sex, which means they need to be aware of the risks of not using protection.

According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey, HIV prevalence is especially high in the 15 to 49 age-group and women' statistics are higher than among men, constituting 21,1 percent of total 18,1 percent HIV prevalence between 2005 and 2006 and men in that age-group constituting 14,5 percent.

To me that is a clear warning to us that to achieve that HIV free generation we all dream of for tomorrow's generation, there is need to catch them young, to make sure the girl child is protected first as girls and as mothers so that their children too can be protected.

Something needs to be done about the young girls who are falling prey to older and mostly married men whose status they do not know, the young girls who are being left to look after children while they are still children themselves. Yes, it might not mean that we start distributing condoms to them but just making a case for greater investment in women's health through sharing research and experiences.

The Women Deliver conference, a global conference focusing on creating opportunities to save the lives and improve the health of mothers, women and newborns globally took place this week in London under the theme "Invest in women: It pays" demonstrating the critical link between women's health and rights and sound economies, families and communities.

At a Cottco session on how women can advocate for safer sex it was gratifying that most mothers and even grandmothers said they were talking to their daughters and grandchildren about the importance of protecting themselves should they find it difficult to abstain.

"As much as it may be difficult it has become necessary that we become open with our children and grandchildren about issues to do with sex and reproductive health. That way we make sure that they can at least make the right choices if the need ever arises," said one participant.

It is now no longer about falling pregnant. In the past parents' greatest fear was that their girl children would fall pregnant before they finished school. Today the fears are compounded, pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

What then should we do about young people? If the young people themselves would open up and tell us what their health needs are, it would be much easier to come forth with help.

Some young people say approaching health service providers for reproductive health services is very difficult because of some traditional attitudes.

It seems instead of assisting the young people brave enough to come forth, some of our health care providers are being judgmental and critical. Now everyone will tell you that if you want a young person to bolt, judge or criticise them.