The Municipality’s HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign has proved a huge success, attracting a big turnout of residents from SJ Smith Community Residents Unit (hostel) recently.
The HCT drive hosted by the health unit has been an ongoing project, but it was a first time it had visited the male hostel in Ward 75, Lamontville.
Unit HIV facilitator Hillaria Zungu said, “I was thrilled to see so many men participating. The lines were long and people were eager to know their status. It is a men’s hostel, but there were also a few women present”
The Unit partnered with the Ithembalabantu Clinic which provided the HCT, Napwa which provided counselling on positive living and Oliver Leaf, which was there to help change the perception among many men that it is “cool” to date more than one women at the same time.
The slogan of the day was, One Man, One Woman”. Ward Councillor Isabel Malatsi said she was happy to see people being tested and then going back to their rooms to call others.
Oliver Leaf showed me the registration book and I was impressed because it is no longer like in the old days when people would not attend such events,” Malatsi said.
Councillor Nomvuzo Shabalala said, “We applaud the Health Unit for this initiative. It gives citizens an opportunity to know their status so they can plan thier lives wisely and productively.”
SJ Smith resident Thulani Dlamini said he was grateful the event had been held on a weekend as it was difficult to attend clinics during the week.
” We feel special because the Unit is bringing the services to us. It’s great that you do not need to provide an identity document or your real name like you have to do at clinics.” Dlamini said.
Residents were also treated to a demonstration of how to use the female condoms and were offered free counselling before and after testing.
Article from: Ethekwini Municipality Metro Community Newspaper
Siyasizana Community Development 