Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Dr. Eva Seobi (left), medical doctor from South Africa, addresses a Gleaner Editors' Forum yesterday. Looking on are former New York Councilwoman, Una Clarke and Teboho Seobi, Dr. Seobi's daughter. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

A leading medical doctor from South Africa says the society is giving young people a false sense of hope that in using condoms, they would be fully protected from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

"We give young people the hope of thinking that if they 'condomise' then that's it, and we do not emphasise that there is a percentage of failure rate in using the condom," Dr. Eva Seobi told a Gleaner Editors' Forum held yesterday at the company's North Street head offices.

The forum was called to discuss the role of Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness in the society, and their activities for homecoming, which is being observed from October 13 to 21.

Dr. Seobi noted that, as a medical doctor, it pained her to tell someone that he or she was HIV-positive and to hear the individual respond by saying that he or she used a condom every time.

"We are not telling people the truth, especially as the scientific doctors who everybody looks up to say we are going to give them the correct way forward," she said.

Condoms are about 98.3 per cent safe.

AIDS ravishing the young

Dr. Seobi says HIV/AIDS is ravishing our young people and the older generation has to do more before it gets worse.

"We find that there is more promiscuity (and) the more we talk about 'condomising', trying to conscientise young people in having a sort of an awareness, and the emphasis on putting their hopes on condoms, literally gives us the opposite effects,' she told the forum.

Dr. Seobi said the community should also take up the responsibility to educate young people. She later told The Gleaner that adults should teach young people self-control.

The Ministry of Health and Environment says there are 25,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica but 15,000 are not aware of their status. About 5.5 million people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

The Ministry of Health and Environment has begun teaching abstinence among young people.

The objectives of the homecoming of Hands Across Jamaica are to:

Reunite the Jamaican family, thereby building a stronger nation.

Increase the understanding of God's purpose outlined in the Motto, National Anthem and Pledge.

Refocus Jamaicans on the tenets of the Motto, National Anthem and Pledge.

Position Jamaica to fulfil its purpose to advance the welfare of the whole human race.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com