- Hundreds of people gathered at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha to celebrate World Aids Day on Thursday 30 November.
- The event was organised by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in partnership with MTV Shuga cast in memory of those who died from HIV/Aids related-illnesses and those who are living with the virus.
- Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Nomafrench Mbombo said it was time for young people to lead the fight against the virus.
Hundreds of people gathered at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha to celebrate World Aids Day on Thursday 30 November.
The event was organised by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in partnership with MTV Shuga cast in memory of those who died from HIV/Aids related-illnesses and those who are living with the virus.
The gathering was also focused on educating the community about the role played by the media in raising awareness about the virus.
TAC provincial People Living with HIV chair Neliswa Nkwali said the organisation collaborates with different stakeholders to convey the message to the public.
READ | Hlengisa Primary School in Nyanga celebrates the World Aids Day in style
“MTV Shuga is one of our biggest stakeholders within the media space. Its duty is to convey the message through the media. Initially, we had Soul City drama on South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and other adverts.
“Currently, we have MTV Shuga which is aired on MTV Base,” explained Nkwali.
She stated that they are not just educating people about HIV/Aids but about gender-based violence (GBV) as well.
Nkwali said HIV/Aids and GBV are like a new pandemic facing the country. She urged sexually active people to use condoms all the time.
“We are encouraging people, especially the youth, to utilise protections all the time to prevent teenage pregnancy. They can also utilise condoms, microbicide gel, PrEP as well,” she said.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Nomafrench Mbombo said it was time for young people to lead the fight against the virus.
She described young people as the future of the country. “We used to say let the community lead, but now we say let the young people lead. We don’t want to hear them complaining saying we don’t understand them. We want you (young people) to make us understand,” explained Mbombo.
She stated that leadership is about knowing your status. She said that their status is confidential.
Mbombo told the HIV/Aids patients that they were not alone and encouraged them to take treatment.
Nosipho Ntisa (39), a resident from Greenpoint in Site B, described the event as educational.
She encouraged young people to normalise attending such kinds of events.
“My younger sister died in 2019 because of Aids. She was hiding her status and we found out very late and there was nothing we could do. When I hear topics related to HIV/Aids I think about her,” said Ntisa adding that she believed if her sister spoke out about her status would still be alive.
She said HIV is like any other chronic disease.
