In an effort to prevent incurable diseases like HIV/Aids and other related diseases, the Mulima’s Revelation Christian Church initiated a virginity testing programmeme, where young girls around Pfananani Village get tested in an attempt to encourage them to avoid engaging in sex before marriage.   

The church held a celebration a fortnight ago, where all the girls who went to be checked were welcomed home by their parents. The event took place at the church’s premises of Pfananani, one of the remote areas of Ha-Mulima in the Tshitale area.

In a interview with Mirror, Pastor Selaya Famadi of the Revelation Christian Church said that the church initiated the programme with an aim of saving and protecting young girls from dangerous diseases. Asked about the cooperation from the girls, Famadi indicated that they never experienced anysome challenges, as all the girls were very cooperative and obliged by the principles that guide them within the programme.

Famadi further outlined that there was a team of the ladies at the church who supervised and monitored the girls in the programme. “The supervision is perfect and the expenses are paid by the church,” he added.

It was also revealed that the girls are sent to the doctor all the time for a checkup and that Dr Tshilidzi Rambau was appointed the medical doctor for the programme. Mirror learnt that the girls who are engaging in the virginity programme include those who are furthering their studies at tertiary level. During the celebration, 42 girls were able to received certificates that indicate that they are participating in the programme.

One of the parents who spoke to Mirror, Mr Thomas Mudivhi, indicated that he was happy that the programme had been initiated in the village. “It is a good thing that children are focusing on their education without any disturbances or engaging in sexual activities,” he said. Mudivhi further acknowledged that, as a parent, he was fully supporting the initiative. “I feel that the programme was supposed to have been implemented a long time ago in our village. It is indeed a good thing for our children,” he outlined.