Positive Talk - District Blogs – Treatment Action Campaign

“Positive Talk - S’ringa Waya-Waya
Newsletter
Quarter
4 Date
Positive Talk
Ekurhuleni Treatment Action Campaign
IN THIS ISSUE:
Editorial
Personal story
What can you do to fight
TB in your community
In Memory of….
District Events
Editorial from the office of the PCR Coordinator
World Aids Day has been observed since 1998 and have become one of the most recognised days in our communities even though it is not a public holiday. Some people feel that
this day doesn’t have any significance to them and don’t understand why year in and year
out we commemorate the day, I can’t fin an easier answer to the question than “we all are
affected directly or indirectly by HIV?AIDS and by commemorating the day we are not
giving AIDS more importance than other illnesses. This is the day when we have to look
back from where we come from, remember the loved ones we have lost to the epidemic, on
this day we don’t only pledge but we also raise our voices the loudest in order to make
people see that there is a lot that we can do if we stand together, bring awareness and celebrate those who are still with us and are making an effort to rid our world of suffering and
ensure that someday we will be commemorating World Aids Day as a reminder that we
once had something called AIDS and we were able to eradicate it. This day is special to all
of us, whether we are infected or affected and is one of those day where the question Am I
Doing Something must be on our minds.
Coming to terms with my HIV Status
Kelebokgile Kabanyane tested for HIV June 2002, The
Contributors:
Luckyboy Mkhondwane
Belinda Setshogelo
Portia Serote
Stephen Ngcobo
Kelebokgile Kabanyane
Mpho Matlou
Victor Mtshali
reason he went for an HIV test was because he heard
rumours that his partner died of related illnesses,. Thus
he took a step to know his status. He went to Spartan
Clinic and was told that he does have HIV. At first he did
not believe that he was living with HIV until he got sick
in 2006, during the illness he went to a clinic where he
was asked if he has ever done an HIV test, which he denied and was tested again knowing fully well that he has
tested a few years ago. Blood was taken for CD4 Count and viral load. When the results came back,
his CD4 Count was 61. Kelebokgile was refer to Masakhane Clinic in Tembisa to be initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy. At Masakhane clinic Kelebokgile was told by another patient about a doctor who
was offering ARVs for free, so he decided to go there instead of accessing his treatment through sector. When he got to the doctor, he was tested yet ain, and still he tested positive for the virus.
He was initiated on ARVS after a month of adherence classes which are done by the counsellors at
the doctor’s surgery. After starting ARVs Kelbokgile decided to join group and learned more about
HIV and got to interact with people who are living with HIV, this made a difference in his. He then
decided to be open about his status. He met a lot of discrimation regarding this especially from his
uncle whom he was staying with, Kelebokgile decided to commit suicide by hanging himself. Fortunately he did not die because he was found hanging by his sister who managed to get help. Kelbokgile was taken to the police station where he met Colonel Dladla who organised for a counsellor
to talk to Kelebokgile, after a few sessions the counsellor became Kelebokgile’s mentor. That is when
Kelebokgile’s life changed for the better, he became a confident and motived young man who is
proud talk openly about his status and not care what other people think.
Kelebokgile joined Treatment Action Campaign in 2008 and he became a Prevention and Treatment
Literacy Practitioner in 2009. Ever since he started working for TAC, he realised that there is a need
for education on HIV in the community and the fact that there is a lot of change one can do by involving themselves in community empowerment programmes.
Kelebokgile encourages all men to face HIV and all the challenges of life. Men must not be afraid to
seek help and join support groups so that they can discuss issues that affect them .
“Positive Talk - S’ringa Waya-Waya
Page 2
SABC Wellness day 2010
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Above: Celebrities Doing their bit for HIV Awarenes: Simphiwe Dana, Luckyboy Mkhondwane, Fikile Ntuli, Brenda Ngxoli and Nontyatyambo Makapela
On World Aids Day 2010, the SABC in Johannesburg held a Wellness day
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIGHT TB IN YOUR
COMMUNITY?
TB is a community problem because many people in our communities have it and we come into contact with them on a
daily basis. We must prevent TB and help people who are infected with it, it is our responsibility as the community to
make a difference
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS BETTER LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Everybody needs houses with enough space and good ventilation. We need to be able to get healthy food that doesn’t cost
a lot of money. Our work places must be clean and hygienic
and we need more services and programmes on TB infection
control and treatment.
WHAT ROLE CAN WE PLAY IN THE TREATMENT
AND PREVENTION OF TB?
As the community we can:
Monitor services by mobilizing and organizing in our
communities to hold the government accountable.
Focus our educational campaigns on vulnerable groups
Balance and clarify messages on TB and HIV
Availing ourselves as treatment supporters
Respecting and treating people with TB the way we
treat others
Working with organisations that deal with health issues
Making sure that all children are immunised with BCG
Working with Traditional Health Practitioners and
Religious groups in our communities. Advocating for
preventative therapy to be made available.
One of the ways we can stop the escalated rate of TB prevalence is by making sure that TB is treated properly through
access to treatment and diagnostics, working together with
ward councillors in order to improve service delivery e.g.
housing, water and sanitation. Engaging in door to door campaigns and community education and forming TB support
groups in all our clinics. If we work together, we can win.
and HIV testing for their staff in Aucklandpark.. TAC members Nontyatyambo
Makapela and Fikile Ntuli took part in the education and testing. This event
was also graced by Celebrities who gave words of encouragement and showed
support for people living with HIV.and some including DJ Cleo, Simphiwe
Dana and Brenda Ngxoli took part in an on air
HIV testing as way of showing their commitment to the cause. Luckyboy
Mkhondwane the Ekurhuleni PCR Coordinator joined the event on his way to
an event that was held at Wits University where he was a keynote speaker.
Left: Stephen
Ngcobo
facilitating
at the Kingsway HPV
Workshop
On the 1st February, Kingsway Branch held an HPV and Cervical Cancer workshop at Lindelani Hall, 47 people who included NGO representatives, ANC Youth League and TAC members were trained at the
workshop which was facilitated by Mpho Matlou and Stephen Ngcobo.
Above: Participants at the Kingsway Branch HPV Worshop
Page 3
“Positive Talk - S’ringa Waya-Waya
Condom distribution at Buhle Park informal Settlement
In Memory of
Gcinumuzu Thokozani “La Ginah” Mcunu
*18-08-83*
+08-02-11+
Above: Rebecca Malambu and Veronica Dira Distributing
Condoms
Gcinumuzi Thokozani Mcunu a.k.a “La Ginah” passed away
tragically on Tuesday 8 February 2010. He was a vibrant and
outgoing young man with lots of promise, he became a Prevention and Treatment Literacy Practitioner in 2009 and amongst
the most intelligent and committed people in the team. May his
soul rest in peace.
Dayveton STI Awareness and Material Distribution
On the 14th February 2011, TAC Dayveton Branch in conjunction with Lifeline and Dayveton Main Clinic, held an STI
Awareness, Condom & Material Distribution event at he
Dayveton Mall. 1000 community members including taxi drivers and school children attended the event.
This event was the result of a workshop on STS held earlier at
the branch which was facilitated by Portia Serote and Stephen
Ngcobo.
Above : Stephen Ngcobo and Portia Serote doing Condom Demonstration
CHILDREN SHOULD BE SEEN AND HEARD: TAC Members and children from a local pre-school at the Walk Against Gender Based
Violence.
On the 10th December 2010, Treatment Action Campaign
Ekurhuleni district held a march against gender based violence
with an emphasis on the safety of our children in Thokoza Location. The Theme of the event was "Nthate, ntshireletse,
nhlomphe. Re Bokamoso" (Love me, protect me, respect me. We
are the future). A moment of silence was observed in remembrance of a 12 year old girl who was raped and murdered in the
district. And the proceedings of the day included a march from
Thokoza Police Station to Sam Ntuli Hall where there were
speeches, entertainment and playing of indigenous games. Fifty
children from Vosloorus Creche, Sonke ender Justice, Kwand,
SAMAG, FEW and men from the community were part of the
event.
Treatment Action Campaign Ekurhuleni
Office 1 Golden Heights Building, 141 Victoria
Road
Germiston
Phone: 011 873 4130
Fax: 011 872 1405
E-mail: info@ac.org.za
Website: www.tac.org.za
Walk against gender based violence: Ekurhuleni Children making their
voices heard