Peer educators graduate

wUKZN?’s HIV/AIDS Support Unit held a special graduation ceremony on 4 April to welcome its latest cohort of peer educators.

The Peer Education Programme trains students in life-skills and knowledge about HIV and AIDS. This enables them to act as mentors both to their peers and their communities.

Mr Melusi Mkhize a senior peer educator and final year BCom Management and Marketing student said that he joined the programme because he felt the need to educate fellow students and his community about the negative impact the HIV/AIDS pandemic has on society. ?“Today?’s students are tomorrow?’s leaders. If students get infected and possibly die of AIDS, this hinders our country?’s economic growth,?” he said.

Guest speaker at the event, Mr Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, DJ at Gagasi FM, commended students for their commitment to society: ?“The greatest challenge for you as peer educators is to go the extra mile in changing people?’s perception about the disease.?”

In his speech, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research said that it is very important that tertiary institutions take the threat of HIV seriously. He noted that UKZN was the first University to provide anti-retroviral treatment for students. The University currently receives more than R800 million in funding in support of HIV research.