People from all walks of life converged at the Alexandra Hospice and Rehabilitation Centre to commemorate World Aids Day.
The centre takes care of 30 patients from Alex and other provinces who are terminally ill or suffering from chronic illnesses.
The event is an annual activity and brings together traditional healers, non-profit organisations, children and businesses. Attendees conveyed their sympathies and get well messages to the patients, donated goodies and equipment to improve the services provided by the centre.
Songs of encouragement for the patients were rendered by the youthful Shalom Ministries and Missionaries choir. A drama on domestic abuse was staged by Realogile school pupils and non-profit organisation Adapt.
Traditional healer Sphiwe Nyathi said traditional and western methods of healing complemented each other, and there were a lot of cross overs between the two to ensure holistic healing of the spirit and flesh.
Hilda Raseroka of the non-profit organisation, Uncedo Lwabantu, encouraged the patients not to lose hope as Aids and many terminal ailments were no longer death sentences after major advances in research and treatment methods.
She urged patients to have faith and to commit to treatment regimes and encouraged the public to test for Aids to ensure they knew their status.
