Youth nudged to test their HIV status
Health workers at the Bela-Bela Town Clinic and officials from the local municipality had on Tuesday 16 July, applauded the local mayor Jeremiah Ngobeni for taking a lead in knowing his HIV status.
Health workers at the Bela-Bela Town Clinic and officials from the local municipality had on Tuesday 16 July, applauded the local mayor Jeremiah Ngobeni for taking a lead in knowing his HIV status.
The mayor took an HIV test in the presence of the media, his colleagues and the health clinic staff.
He said the aim of the initiative was to encourage people, especially the youth, to know their status and live a positive life regardless of the results.
“The way our young people live nowadays, with recklessness in alcohol consumption, drug usage, teenage pregnancy and many others, is cause for concern,” he said.
“Bela-Bela is the number one township in the entire district with the HIV infection rate, and Waterberg is number one in the province. Focusing on our area, it was necessary for me as the first citizen to take a lead in encouraging young people to know their status,” he said.
He said the municipality had recently launched the local AIDS Council, a programme that deals with matters relating to HIV/AIDS, voluntary counselling and testing, as well as informing the
public about the virus and how to prevent it.
The mayor further called out to the business community and other leaders to also follow suit and encourage people to know their status.
— The BEAT
