February 14 is Valentine’s Day, what has become known as the day for lovers. The day is synonymous with flowers and presents as lovers throughout the world take turns to spoil each other.

Just taking a walk through shopping malls now, it is evident that the retail sector is already anticipating big sales as they have put up massive displays in a bid to outdo each other and attract the most business. Hotels, lodges and inns are anticipating a boost in business with many couples wanting to spend time alone together over this period.

Whilst all this pressure about love is going on, there is need for someone to sound the warning bells; that if couples show each other love in an irresponsible manner this Valentine’s Day, there is a real danger of some people contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Many a schoolgirl has lost their virginity to ‘her Valentine’ and it is hoped that if anyone is planning to lose their virginity this year, then they will make sure they use protection.  
The media is heavily involved in the Valentine’s Day Craze as evidenced by the fact that most of the advertising around this occasion goes through the media. This year there is even a Hollywood special, in the form of a movie for Valentine’s Day (www.valentinesdaymovie.com). As the media, we need to carefully look at our role as opinion shapers and advocates of change within our societies, in the context of what Valentine’s Day stands for.
Story Angles

• The media has the crucial role of talking about safer sexual behaviour around this period, as people tend to think with emotions and passion, rather than common sense when ‘in love’.
• Valentine’s Day presents the media with a unique opportunity to talk about sex. While sex and sexuality may be taboo every other day, there is need to take advantage  of Valentine’s Day to educate people about the dangers that indulging in sex without thinking about the consequences poses, especially for young people
• Multiple concurrent partnerships, the practice of sleeping with two or more people at the same time, remain a major challenge for most southern African countries. The media has the opportunity to promote faithfulness in relationships during this Valentine’s Day
•  A lot of young people confuse love and sex. Use this Valentine’s Day to talk to youths and experts in youth and reproductive health and write articles or make TV and radio programmes around some of the issues that affect young people at this time of the year  
• A lot of different sentiments are expressed about Valentine’s Day and some people say that over the years it has just become a commercial gimmick and that love does not have to be shown just on February 14. Some people go to extremes during this period to get a gift or a partner for Valentine’s Day, The media has the opportunity to talk to people and find out what they think about the day, and more importantly, to highlight that love is not just about presents and help remove the pressure from impressionable young people  
• In some countries testing for HIV is offered free of charge during Valentine’s Day. Is the same happening in all your countries? If not, this is the time to advocate for governments and civil society to work together to promote HIV testing across the region.

Sources:
holidays.lovingyou.com/valentine
www.history.com/content/valentine
www.valentinesdaymovie.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day
wilstar.com/holidays/valentn.htm