Forcing young girls into early marriages predispose them to a high risk of HIV/AIDS infection, and many are denied opportunity to finish their education. Education is key to a girl child development and helps her appreciate her reproductive and sexual right. It also helps her make healthy sexual decisions. Cultural practices are the main influence of this not only in Africa but in other sections of the developing world. Addressing cultural forces is essential, if interventions aimed at empowering and educating a girl child are to be successful. Unfortunately, in many countries particularly in Africa, this is not being addressed.I argue that unless this force is addressed, large sums of money will continue to be spent on policies that will not yield any potential fruit. My message to organisations ( NGOs) that are funding projects and research aimed at improving lives of girls including their sexual health is that more efforts are needed to fund research projects that address the influence of culture on the lives women and their empowerment. This is pivotal to any policies aimed at empowering a girl child.
By Bright Mukanga
PhD, student, MPH, BSc,PGCHP.
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