Today in Harare, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council called on parents to discuss reproductive health issues, including HIV/AIDS and STDs, with their children. "There is an information gap between parents and children due to the old tradition of viewing sex as taboo," said Simbarashe Namusi, the council's production manager. "It is better for parents to ignore the taboos and tell children the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases." Many young people grow up without knowledge of STDs, said Namusi, adding that the breakdown of the extended family has created an information vacuum and left many young people without support systems. The council is stepping-up its war against AIDS by advising young people to abstain from premarital sex, he said.

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