UJ urges students to get healthy

In lieu of World Tuberculosis Day which falls on 24 March, University of Johannesburg hosted their own TB and HIV screening for all students and staff on 15 March to a great reception.

The day saw students gather across the stalls that were spread on the campus lawns to get educated and tested. City of Johannesburg region b TB coordinator, Karen Strydom said that this is the second that UJ has invited them to conduct the event. She went on to explain that students and non-students alike go through a registration process and there after are educated about the different diseases which is then followed by counselling.

Clinical HIV Research Unit was also there on the day and representative, Tshidi Lelaka said that such events are great to see. “We love the response we getting today, it shows that the students want to know and are eager,” said Lelaka. She further divulged that she wants student to know about all the different diseases there are so they are informed enough to make the right decisions.

Manager of the primary health clinic at UJ, Molimi Geya said that she started the initiative about two years ago. “Such days bring awareness. After all the tests will be taken to Helen Joseph Hospital where they will use a gene expert machine,” said Geya. She further added that this machine is special because it tests if someone is multi drug resistant to TB. She further added that these tests have a turnaround time of 24 hours and those who got tested would know within a day.

One of the student health mobolisers, Lindiwe Vilikazi concluded that she wanted to be part of this event because she thought people her age were ignorant to what is out there.”I also want to go out and educate my community too, so the knowledge I get through being active with such initiatives helps me help them,” said Vilikazi.

Details: University of Johannesburg, 011 559 2112