Learners from Randfontein High School joined the rest of the world in shining a light on the experiences of people living with HIV/ Aids and paid homage to those who have lost their lives in the battle against the disease.
This was part of their World Aids Day commemoration event which took part at the school’s premises on December 1.
One of the learners at the school, Tshinakaho Tshukudu took to the stage and spoke about the disease.
“HIV/Aids is not talked about nearly enough which is why this annual event serves as a reminder for a global struggle to end HIV/Aids-related stigma. It also serves as an opportunity to honour those we have lost and a rallying cry to commit to working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat.
“The first World Aids Day took place in 1988 and provided a platform to raise awareness about HIV and honour the lives affected by the pandemic and this year marks the 35th commemoration of the important day,” said Tshinakaho who added that over the past 35 years, there has been significant progress in addressing HIV/ Aids and that’s thanks to advancements in medical research and increased access to treatment and prevention.
Meanwhile, the school had also invited Olive Strachan as a guest speaker, who worked as a nurse and is currently a performing artist.
She said the pandemic is deeper than what meets the eye and made reference to people in rural areas who have little to no access to healthcare facilities to get tested for HIV.
She added that as a result, these people often do not make up the statistics and that the numbers recorded about the pandemic are sometimes not a true reflection.
