MLUMATI – College students are urged to know their HIV/Aids status and take necessary precautions for longevity.
This was said during the recent launch of the Higher Education and Training on HIV/Aids for FET colleges in the Ehlanzeni region on Monday by the Department of Higher Education in conjunction with the Department of Health.
Mlumati FET CEO Dr Gideon Sibiya urged the students to take the programme very seriously. “It is designed to help you so that when you graduate you don’t run to the grave but to your places of employment,” said Sibiya.
In his speech, Sibiya added that research had revealed that the majority of university and college students are infected and that some die shortly after graduating.
“This can be prevented by knowing your status. Death caused by HIV/Aids, diabetics, cancer and others can be avoided only if the infected person becomes aware of his or her status and takes necessary actions. We love you, we don’t want to give you academic education and neglect other aspects of your lives,” he told students.
The district’s HIV/Aids and TB directorate, Mr Elphas Nkosi described HIV/Aids as a democratic disease as it doesn’t differentiate between skin colour, race, age and social status.
“Some are infected because of their own actions, but some are not. This launch preceded other things and we hope people will make right decisions about their lives. We applaud the department of education for this effort,” he said.
He also spoke at length about the need for successful and healthy young people in a country.
“There is no need for students or anyone to die because of this disease, hence we say, die no more as there is treatment available to make people live long,” he said.
The three-day activity was held at Mlumati FET College where hundreds of students, SRC members and peer educators from the six FET colleges around the region attended.
Similar launches were said to be planned for other campuses. Mr Otto Mazibuko states that the programme consists of seven components including First things first campaign, Zazi (Know yourself ) campaign, Brothers for life campaign which focuses on medical male circumcision.
Other campaigns are planned at a later stage, such as alcohol and drug abuse, lesbian and gays, life orientation and campus radio.
Ms Precious Mhlongo of Barberton FET said as a peer educator at her campus she would publicly get tested to know her status.
“I had to lead by example so that other students will follow suit. Its true that youth had information which they do not use and that is why they end up pregnant. Its high time we use the information and empower others,” she said.
