Awareness talk shines light on HIV pandemic

EDEAF’S marketing and communication’s manager, Nicky Bezuidenhout, will lace up in support of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) for Comrades this year.

To help create awareness for the cause, a group of eDeaf students visited HACT recently.

eDeaf offers several training courses and learnership programmes to empower deaf communities for business and has thrown its support behind Nicky’s charity of choice by donating R5 000.

The Hillcrest resident was introduced to HACT through Dean Wight and his Beloved Long Runs group.

“For me, this is more than just running in Batch C for HACT. I feel that I will have a long term investment with the organisation. I didn’t realise it has an on-site Respite Unit. I have seen the great work it does first-hand,” she said.

Ten students from eDeaf, and two interpreters, took part in an awareness day at HACT.

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HACT’s CEO, Candace Davidson, hosted an informative talk on HIV/AIDS and covered issues such as: what HIV is, how it affects the body, the difference between HIV and AIDS, how HIV is contracted (and not contracted) and how to protect oneself.

“The group was very inquisitive and, through the use of an interpreter, asked many questions about HIV, medication adherence and about HACT’s programmes and services. People living with disabilities are often left out from mainstream health promotion and health messaging media campaigns. For example, the word HIV positive can easily be misinterpreted by a deaf person in a hospital setting.”

“So I have now commissioned these young people to be ambassadors of their new knowledge and to spread what they learned to their friends, families and other deaf colleagues,” said Candace.

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