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Reports that nearly half of the University of Zimbabwe students who recently underwent voluntary HIV testing were positive are very disturbing indeed. The results prompted the institution of higher learning to immediately put measures to limit inter-residence visits between male and female students. Forty-seven percent of the students who underwent testing and counselling at the institution tested positive.

The Midlands State University also has a similar challenge as the institution’s HIV prevalence rate shot from 20 percent in 2014 to 23 percent last year. The UZ Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura said the grim statistics of sexually transmitted diseases at the institution had forced authorities to limit inter-residence visits between female and male students. He said the university had consulted parents who said students should not be allowed to enjoy married lifestyles as this promoted promiscuity.

Prof Nyagura said the university agreed with parents that students should not be allowed to live as couples in the halls of residents. The Vice Chancellor said at some stage one of the halls of residence had almost become a maternity wing as most of the students were pregnant. He said it was not good for the university to encourage cohabitation of male and female students.

The situation obtaining at the UZ and MSU could be the same at other universities throughout the country. What is clear is that the students are engaging in unprotected sex hence the higher numbers of students that have contracted the deadly HIV virus. The increasing number of students falling pregnant is also a confirmation that the students are engaging in unprotected sex.

This reckless sexual behaviour by students is very worrying given the fact that as a nation we are investing a lot of resources in these students who are supposed to be the future leaders of this country. Students at universities cannot claim to be ignorant of the risks associated with indulging in unprotected sex.

The nation looks up to university students for information on HIV/Aids and it is therefore incumbent upon students to lead by example. We appreciate measures being taken by UZ authorities to limit inter-residence visits between male and female students but such measures cannot stop the spread of HIV/Aids. What is critical is behaviour change. Students should appreciate that they are at universities to learn and not to indulge in sex.

In the event of them indulging in sex, there is a need to use protection. We cannot allow a whole generation to be wiped out by the Aids scourge which continues to claim thousands of lives every year. There is an urgent need for the National Aids Council to assist in setting up centres at universities to, not only educate students on the dangers of unprotected sex, but to also assist those already infected.

We want at this juncture to applaud the health department at MSU for taking the initiative to open such a centre. The centre apart from providing ARVs, also educates students on the dangers and risks of indulging in unprotected sex.

The centre through its peer education groups, engages students and this system, according to officials, has proved very effective. It is our hope that such a centre will be replicated at all universities and other institutions of higher learning. We want to once again implore university students to abstain from sex and in the event of failing to do so, to consider protection.