Читать книгу Dr Eve's Sex Book: A Guide for Young People - Marlene Wasserman - Страница 6

THE LACK OF ACCURATE AND PROPER EDUCATION for our youth regarding sex, sexual health and sexual identity in South Africa is quite clear, taking into account the high rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), gender-based violence, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and rape that we have. With hardly any education in schools and often less in their homes, youngsters are forced to learn about sexual health through friends, or more likely, through personal experience. Dr Eve, however, hopes for and mentions a different scenario.

Dr Eve’s Sex Book: A Guide for Young People is an informative and straightforward book about sex, youth, health and pleasure. The Guide is about being comfortable with your body as well as with a partner’s. It raises the right questions and gives the right answers. The balance between well-researched information, discussion, myth-busting and fun is one of the greatest assets of the Guide, making it a compelling and enjoyable read.

Dr Eve’s discussion of HIV/AIDS is well informed, and well communicated. She reveals the alarming situation that faces youngsters, in fact, all of you, but is quick to explain that with sexual health and responsible behaviour young adults can still become healthy and sexually active adults.

As with the Treatment Action Campaign’s HIV/AIDS Treatment Literacy Program, Dr Eve focuses on prevention and stresses the necessity of education. The section entitled “HIV/AIDS Myths and Misconceptions” sheds light on some of the epidemic’s most destructive myths, and then focuses the discussion on the realities of the epidemic. In the end she reaches the heart of the problem: HIV/AIDS is real, you can get it, but with educated decisions you can avoid the risk, while still having a healthy sexual life.

Dr Eve is a great believer in more sexual health education. Her ability to keep the reader’s attention shows that sexual health should have its place in the education of South African youth, and the very fact that you have chosen to read this book shows that there is an interest and a need. For youngsters, as for all of us, information about sexual health should be open and accessible rather than closed and restricted. In the end, Dr Eve has taught us that with responsible behaviour, as well as some education, sex can be safe – but more importantly – be fun.

Zackie Achmat

TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN