Status Update Edition 3

ST TUS UPDATE

From the Executive Director: Student Affairs

What a privilege to make contact with all our readers for this 3rd Edition of the Status Update!

Upfront allow me to formally bid farewell to a number of our staff members as well as our German Volunteers, Sebastian Schuth and Paul Birth.

Professor Ashraf Allie Mohammed, who has given a sterling service to the HIV/AIDS Unit, has since taken early retirement. We acknowledge as part of the CPUT family that

he has left an indelible mark. We wish him a well deserved and a fantastic professorial rest.

Mr Alex Semba is the second colleagues that we wish to bid goodbye. He has worked tirelessly as our Projects Officer for a number of years. He will be particularly remembered for the leadership stints he played during Professor Mohammed’s sabbatical leave. We know our paths will cross; our loss was one of the neighbouring institution’s gain!

EVENTS

The annual Peer Educators Award Ceremony is to acknowledge Peer Educators (PEs) for their commitment to the HIV/AIDS Unit programmes. PEs reneder items and there’s motivational and keynote speakers, and awards for best performing PEs.

The HIV/AIDS Unit collaborates with an organization/ structure every year to celebrate World AIDS Day and commemorate the lives of those who passed away due to the syndrome.

We Salute, Mr Semba for all his hard work under the supervisory role of Ms Elisabet Smit.

New beginnings are herewith announced with four new staff members who recently commenced their services.

These are, Sister Sweetness Kola (Wellness Mobile Nurse), Melani-Ann Cook (Peer Education Officer), Bonile Peter (Health Promoter) and Mr Makhonza Boyce (Wellness Mobile Driver).

Welcome aboard to all of you colleagues! We are guilty as charged from “poaching” next door!

I hope you will enjoy this edition as it will be covering a number of recent programmes amongst others the ZAZI campaign which was successfully launched on the Cape Town Campus Piazza. The National Facilitator of DramAide, Ms Thenjiwe Manana’s hard work is welcome!

Stay Blessed!

Cora Njoli Motale

You are encouraged to direct any HIV-related questions to the Health Promoter anonymously. They can be inboxed to the HIV/ AIDS Unit Facebook page or as a direct message on twitter. Please note that some of your questions may be published in this newsletter anonymously.

Za Z i Launch

By Nomtika mjwaNa

On the 19th of August, the CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit, in collaboration with DRAMAIDE, launched the ZAZI campaign at the Piazza in CPUT Cape Town Campus.

The ZAZI campaign is a joint partnership between the South Africa National AIDS Council (SANAC) Women’s Sector, USAID/JHU HIV Communication program and PEPFAR and is supported by the Department of women, children and people disabilities the Department of health and the Department of social development.

The campaign aims to reduce the weakness of young women to women HIV infection, teenage and unplanned pregnancy and gender based violence. It is supported by a mass media campaign and uses the ZAZI song for maximum impact. The song is written and performed by South African singer Zonke and young upcoming poet Nova, supported by the University of Pretoria Youth choir. The video was directed by well-known South African director Teboho Mahlatsi.

The Launch was hosted Poet Nova alongside HIV/AIDS Unit PR Intern and Peer Facilitator, Nomtika Mjwana.

The programme of the day included showing the audience the ZAZI and the Sugar Daddy campaign videos, engaging the audience by discussing dual protection which involved condom demonstration from the audience, poetry slam

competition where students were using art to empower young women, and to wrap up the program with a bang: a performance by famous DJ who is admired by young women, DJ Zinhle.

“The campaign was a huge success and I am glad to have been a part of it. I learn so much, every time I work with this Unit”, Peer Educator Khotso Sejake said.

“The campaign was a huge success and I am glad to have been a part of it. I learn so much, every time I work with this Unit”

The HIV/AIDS Unit would like to acknowledge all relevant stakeholders who helped to make this event a major success. The campaign is continuous and will be carried forward through trainings, mass media and online promotion.

ZAZI Tr AININ g

By yolaNda mtshawu

The ZAZI campaign is aimed at empowering young women and girls to know their strength and be able to stand for themselves in all aspects of their lives.

In light of introducing the ZAZI campaign on campus, the HIV/AIDS Unit trained peer educators and representatives of other structures on campus for the new women empowerment campaign.

The 2-day training took place at the ABSA Auditorium in Cape Town campus on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11, 2013.

The training was facilitated by Mr. Duduza Ngcobo,

a representative from DRAMAIDE.

Part of the training included discussing topics that affect women and men in society (with practical examples and presentations from Peer Educators) as well as a strategic planning session on implementing and marketing the campaign in order to successfully spread the word on campus. This was to prepare them for the launch and implementations of the campaign.

The topics Mr. Duduza touched on included identifying challenges faced by women in society and how ZAZI can overcome such as well as how

to set standards as a young women and not settle for less, but trusting themselves in everything they do.

The training did not only focus on females but also encourage young men to be supportive of the females in society, empowering them and encouraging them to release

their potential.

Athenkosi Gedezana, Peer Education Chairperson, felt motivated after the training.

“I am definitely facilitating a residence group discussion after this. Young women need to be empowered and I cannot wait to start with my own place of residence”, he said.

BRIDGE THE GAP CAMPAIGN

By thaNdazwa tsoko

The HIV/AIDS Unit collaborated with the Student’s Christian Organisation on an awareness campaign which took place at CPUT Cape Town campus from the 05-07 August to encourage students, primarily males, to be more inquisitive about HIV and knowing their status.

The campaign was called Bridge the Gap, targeting primarily male students within the CPUT community.

The message was to encourage males to balance (Bridge) the number of students getting tested, as most of the times the number of females is always greater.

Another aim for the campaign was, according to the SCO Outreach Coordinator, Mr Taurai Muvundzi, to reduce social, religious, cultural, economic, legal and political

barriers that make people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in order to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on communities and in residences.

As much as the was still a greater number of females getting tested as compared to males, this three- day testing campaign was a success; with a total of 230 students getting tested and a larger number visiting the stalls for HIV information and condom demonstration.

“This campaign did not only benefit the general CPUT community, but a number of SCO members worked closely with our Peer Educators and gained a lot of insight and knowledge on HIV/AIDS. They worked really hard and did a very good job for which they will be recognised”, said Nomtika Mjwana, the CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit Public Relations Intern who was spearheading

the campaign.

This was the first of much collaboration between the HIV/ AIDS Unit and the Students Christian Organisations. The

two structures plan on taking this strategic relationship to a higher level; with interventions such as training SCO members on basic HIV Modules.

“This campaign did not only benefit the general CPUT community, but a number SCO members worked closely with our Peer Educators and gained a lot of insight and knowledge on HIV/AIDS.

ZAZI r esidence group discussion

By thaNdazwa tsoko

The HIV/AIDS Unit Peer Educators Facilitated the residence group discussions from the 13 – 15 August in 3 residences,

St Peters in Cape Town, Richard Sacco in Bellville and the Tygerberg residence to introduce the ZAZI campaign by showing students the ZAZI DVD as well as introducing different topics that narrow down to the aim of the campaign: women empowerment.

ZAZI is a campaign targeting young women between the age of 16-24, with the aim to empower them and help

them realise and unleash their potential.

The group discussions were part of the implementation strategies that were planned by peer educators at the ZAZI campaign training.

These group discussions were part of the means to introduce the ZAZI campaign to students and to research the different ideologies in students which result in young girls not being motivated and having a low self-esteem.

In Bellville, the discussions were held in an all-female residence and that was

very interesting and fun for the girls. Melani-Ann Cook, the new Peer Education Officer at the HIV/AIDS Unit said, “They gained a lot of knowledge and even suggested more topics to discuss next time.”

In Cape Town campus, the group discussion was held at St. Peters Residence, which is a unisex residence.

The students were very participative and had a lot to put in.” They were a bit reserved at first but they eventually started opening up and expressing their views fully”, says Bonile Peter, a new Health promoter at the

STaFF ShuFFLE

By jessica loBi

The HIV/AIDS Unit bid farewell to a number of staff members in the month of July and welcomed new members in the month of August.

Professor Ashraf Mohammed, former Head of Department, has retired and Mr. Alex Semba, who was acting HOD during the first semester and a Projects Officer by profession, is currently at the University of the Western Cape due to his contract with CPUT coming to an end.

Mr Paul Birth and Mr. Sebastian Schuth, the German volunteers, left due to the volunteer period coming to an end and Ms. Jeanete Stoffels the professional nurse did not return as her contract

was not renewed.

There are now new staff members at the HIV/Aids Unit. Ms Melani-Ann Cook is the Peer Education officer, Mr Bonile Peter is the Health Promoter and Ms Sweetness Kola is the professional nurse.

Mr. Makhonza Boyce will also be joining the HIV/AIDS Unit as the new Wellness Mobile Driver, as Mr. Shafiek Abrahams’ contract will end on the 30th of September.

The HIV/Aids Unit still has some of the old staff members. Ms. Andiswa Gqiba is the Health Promoter whose contract is funded by DRAMAIDE, one of the Unit’s major stakeholders and Ms

Rene Williams is a permanent staff member.

The Dean of Student Affairs is currently overseeing the HIV/ AIDS unit.

Professor Ashraf Mohammed has been at the HIV/AIDS Unit since the beginning and has played a major role in developing the department; with great assistance from Mr. Alex Semba.

“Mr. Semba was a great mentor to all of us and we have learnt a whole lot from him. This newsletter is our greatest achievement and if it weren’t for him it probably would not have gone up to this far. I look up to him and hope to work with him again in the future”, said

HIV/AIDS Unit.

The third group discussion was held at the Tygerberg residence, also a unisex residence and the Peer Facilitator that was part of the discussion there, Athenkosi Gedezana, said that the group discussions went far beyond his expectations; “It was TOP, that’s all I can say, I myself learnt a lot from that discussion”, he added.

The HIV/AIDS Unit will continue facilitating these groups discussions and covering most of the issues that affect young people in the CPUT community and in society.

“Mr Semba was a great mentor to all of us and we have learnt a whole lot from him”

PR intern Nomtika Mjwana. Ms Andiswa Gqiba added that Mr. Semba was not just a colleague, but a brother too.

The HIV/Aids Unit is looking forward to working with the new staff members and having bigger impact within the Western Cape community.

Khayelitsha Outreach Project

By alice m meteBe

The HIV/AIDS Unit of Cape Town Peninsula University of Technology did an outreach project on July 12, 2013 in Khayelitsha at the Partners in Sexual Health Organization (PSH).

This outreach project was a Man as Partners workshop for a group of aspiring soccer players and it was self-initiated by Peer educator, Babalwa Kepe who is also a volunteer at PSH.

Working at PSH is how Babalwa got to know the boys and understand their way of thinking.

The workshop was for a local soccer team based in Khayelitsha; young men

between the ages of 14-24.

The activities during the workshop included discussing gender roles: what defines a man/woman in society, how to be a responsible ‘partner’, as well as other fun ice breakers to enhance and improve the concentration span of the soccer players.

“I wanted to help them understand the importance of knowing their role as young men in society” said Kepe.

The workshop was facilitated by Babalwa Kepe, a Peer educator, Nomtika Mjwana, a Public Relations Intern/Peer Facilitator at the HIV/AIDS Unit and Andiswa Gqiba, the Health Promoter at the HIV/AIDS Unit.

THE HIV/AIDS UNIT AIMS TO CONTINUE STRIVING TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND EMPOWERING THE YOUTH.

Letter to HP

Qi found out that i am hiV positive last year in august and i did take further steps on going to the clinic and my cd4count was fine. i was in stage 1 and they gave me pills to boost my immune system and i used them till january and in February i was supposed to go 4 my cd4count check-up.

i never did and never went to clinic again. i’ve not experienced any sickness and since then i decided not to date but now am confused whether to go to the clinic or not because i don’t feel sick.

HP replies...

There are a lot of students on campus that are like you. I am a Health Promoter in the HIV/AIDS Unit who is living openly with HIV and runs a support group for students that are HIV+. If you are not ready to be in a group, you can just meet with me on a one-on-one basis. My email address is [email protected]. You can also find me on Facebook.

It is important that you go to a clinic more often even though you are not feeling sick. You can have your CD4 count checked at the HIV/AIDS Unit as well without you waiting at the clinic for a long time, and you need to take the vitamins that are essential for your immune system. Please make contact with me to support you. I hope this helps. Please write back here if you have any more questions.

i mporta N t co N tact details

As the HIV/AIDS Unit, we are committed to ensuring that our readers know where to seek help when needing assistance with daily life challenges. Below is a list of important contact details.

CPUT HIV/AIDS UNIT

HeALTH PRomoTeRS

cape towN

Andiswa Gqiba

Tel +27 21 460 9029

email [email protected]

BellVille

Bonile Peter

Tel +27 21 460 6898

email [email protected]

CPUT DISABILITy UNIT

Dr Nina du Toit

Tel +27 21 959 6964

Fax +27 21 959 6231

email [email protected]

CAmPUS CLINIC

cape towN

Tel +27 21 460 3405

Fax +27 21 460 3638

Location Administration Building, Level 2, Room 2.900

BellVille

Tel +27 21 959 6403

Fax +27 21 959 6123

Location New Library Extension, Ground floor

STUDeNT CoUNSeLLING

cape towN

Tel +27 21 460 3237

email [email protected]

CPuT’s HIV/AIDS Policy

The Institutional HIV/AIDS Policy is now available in a student-friendly brochure. It is being disseminated to all stakeholders through the HIV/ AIDS Unit, orientation programmes, stalls at various campaigns, libraries and key point areas where staff and students can access it. All departments who would like a presentation on the policy are welcome to schedule an appointment at the HIV/AIDS Unit.

Your HIV/AIDS uNIT

We are here to ensure that students and staff members make informed decisions on their holistic health care and lifestyle. We are committed to providing a safe learning and working environment to protect you from becoming infected with HIV, STI & TB while studying at CPUT.

Cora Motale (Acting) HOD [email protected]

Melanie-Ann Cook Peer Education Officer [email protected]

Rene Williams Admin Assistant [email protected]

Andiswa Gqiba Health Promoter [email protected]

Sweetness Kola Professional Nurse [email protected]

Nomtika Mjwana PR Intern [email protected]

Makhonza Boyce Mobile Wellness Unit Driver not confirmed

Khwezi Kilani OMT Intern [email protected]

Bonile Peter Health Promoter [email protected]