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Know your HIV status, students urged
Bhavna Sookha. 14 September. Daily News. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Students at the Durban Institute of Technology are being encouraged to check their HIV status. This follows last week's Indaba staged by the HIV/AIDS Centre at the institution.
According to Oziel Mdletshe, who is HIV-positive and the health promoter at the centre, the theme of this year's Indaba was "Care and Support".
Mdletshe said the aims of the Indaba were to encourage students to check their HIV status, and to educate students and staff members to accept and help people infected and affected by the HI-virus.
"Even though the campaign is over, we would like everyone to continue living healthy and safe lifestyles on a daily basis," he said.
"All people need to participate and respond positively, and society needs to support those in need."
Mdletshe, who has been living with the virus for eight years, said that, contrary to popular belief, one did not die immediately after finding out one was HIV-positive.
"You don't die from HIV/AIDS straight away. You die from the infections after you are infected with the virus.
"People understand the basics but, because they have a fear of being infected and a fear of discrimination by association, they shy away. This is the challenge that our society faces."
He added that, because of the stigma attached to being HIV-positive, most people would rather not get tested. He said that sometimes students came in for tests and, after finding out they were HIV-positive, disappeared, never to return to the centre for assistance.
"These are the people who need to be counselled. There is no question about confidentiality," he said. "These people need support and they need to be empowered so that they can deal with their issues."
Mdletshe said that support groups had also been established to bring together people to talk about their experiences of living with the virus. The support group, which meets once every week, also helps people disclose their status to friends and family members.
Fikile Khumalo, manager of the HIV/AIDS Centre, said that needs for peer counselling and education had been identified before the centre was established last year. She said she had been greatly encouraged by the response so far and added that students should continue coming forward to check their HIV status.
"Most people fear the unknown. They need to realise that HIV is not a death sentence.
"They need to be made aware of the virus and how best to deal with it."
Khumalo urged students to come forward because testing was free of charge. She said counselling would be made available to all those in need.
"You need to know your status," she said.
The HIV/AIDS centre can be found at the Steve Biko Campus and is open from Monday to Friday, from 08h00 to 16h30pm. |
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