WSU STUDENTS TAKING THE FIRST STEP IN
KNOWING THEIR STATUS
Journalism students were excited and awaiting to be tested on HIV on the monthly first things first campaign which was conducted at Heritage building, one of Walter Sisulu University campuses.
This campaign is aimed at encouraging students on the
importance of knowing their status and being aware of the HIV virus and its
implications. The campaign followed a research that was conducted since 2010 to
establish the number of students infected with HIV/AIDS at higher level
learning institutions.
With the overall estimate of 6.4 million South African
students in higher learning institutions who actually get tested. Research
showed that Eastern Cape students were only 15% of this total. Fort Hare
University had 6.4% prevalence since 2011 and Walter Sisulu University had a
1.1%.
“HIV won’t go away, but we are trying to find out the
problem, even by going door to door there are a big number of young people
infected with HIV. Colleges have built a partnership with NGO’s to test their
students”, said Sister Joyce Gxowa.
The students at Walter Sisulu Heritage site campus seemed
eager to test and were even encouraging their peers to also get tested and
seemed that neither bothered on the results, as they were aware of the proper
cancelling process that were involved in the campaign.
“We as young people know what we get up to, testing seems
scary, but after i received my results it felt good and I danced my way out of
the room. From now on I will never again not use a condom, students must get
tested, there is plenty support from the campaign”, said Qhama Nokwali.
The staff of Ukhamba projects was on their feet through the
day in ensuring that the students received all the assistance and support they
needed to get tested.
“The reason for my passion with young people was driven by a
gap i saw, there were no health care training in tertiary institutions. We
formed partnership with tertiary institutions, community and clinics to bridge
the gap by re-engineering primary health care. As our logo states sharing and
caring with the needy and we take that to heart”, said the national coordinator
Rose Ross.
Ukhamba projects are
a nonprofit organization which operates in 4 provinces, namely Northern
Province, KwaZulu Natal and Free State with 7 districts, local municipalities
and villages.
by: Ziyanda Yono
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