Students across 11 campuses once again came in their numbers to get tested for HIV and screened for sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis (TB).
Over 4760 students and staff participated in the HIV testing campaign. The objective of the campaign was to get as many students and staff to know their HIV status and enable them to protect themselves further or seek health care services when tested HIV positive.
The exciting news is that the male student participation increased! In other words, compared to previous years, males are starting to take their own health very serious by doing the right thing.
MESSAGE
fROM THE HEAd Of UNIT
Welcome to all the students. Once again we’ve kicked off the year with a bang with Welcoming Ceremonies, First Year Orientation and finally our bi-annual HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign also known as the First Things First Campaign.
We are very proud to say that because of your participation, we managed to test 4760 students and staff for HIV since January 2015 and to top it up, this happened during CPUT’s 10th year celebration!
To the guys, WOW…!, you’ve come to the party and have proven that your health is important to you. To the ladies out there, we’re proud of you. Continue to take care of yourselves and remember your primary purpose at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is to obtain a qualification. Stay focussed on your studies and give it your best at all times. Remember we are here for you!
We once again wish to acknowledge the tremendous support from the Higher Education and Training HIV/ AIDS Programme (HEAIDS),[a programme of Higher Education South Africa (HESA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)], and its strategic partners the
Melanie Marais Head of Unit
SRC SHOWS LEAdERSHIP ANd GOT TESTEd
Well done SRC for showing great leadership by taking a very important step and get tested for HIV.
“I had a positive experience when I went for HIV testing. The nurses are all friendly, know what they’re doing and help you to be comfortable. What is even better, you get a free memory stick which has a lot of information about HIV.
To go for the HIV testing may be a little bit stressful at first, because it is unfamiliar but you’ll be relieved when you’re done. It is important that you know what your HIV status is, because this will determine how you will live your life from this point on, whether your status is negative or positive. If you are HIV negative, you can live life without any worries. When you are HIV positive, it is important for you to not be ashamed of it and to take the necessary steps to help yourself.
It will be better to have a few friends or just one friend you trust to go with you to do the HIV testing together. This way you can support each other no matter what your results are.”
Maraisa Homan LSRC CPUT Wellington 2015 Community and Development Officer
“I had a positive experience when I went for HIV testing”
First Things First CAMPAIGN
Getting tested is the right thing to do!
fIRST THINGSfIRST
HIV COUNSELLING AND TESTING STAKEHOLDERS SUPPORT
TB/HIV Care Association, Health4Men and CPUT Media team up to make it happen.
TB/HIV Care Association and Health4Men embarked on a journey with the HIV/AIDS Unit & Campus Clinic to bring Health Care services to almost 33 000 students and staff across CPUT campuses and residences.
And yes, they were ready, willing and able to test students and staff in their numbers. Their passion for young people was the driving force behind the campaign. Two teams worked tirelessly for long hours where they went as far as testing students in the evenings at campus residences.
A special thank you to Kurt Mitchell and Ivan Muller (Student Media) for their assistance with sound.
Look out for them at the next campaign!
Peer educator Programme
BY MELANI-ANN HARA Peer Education Officer CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit
This year a total of 50 Peer Educators have been selected to serve during the 2015 academic year, and work alongside the HIV/AIDS Unit staff to provide HIV awareness and prevention to the greater CPUT community.
The annual Peer Educator training kicked off with a Welcome & Teambuilding day at the Bellville campus Pool Club House on the 27 January 2015. The 2015 Peer Educators spent the day getting to know each other through various team building activities, with the highlight being “Fear Factor”.
This brought out their team spirit! The day ended with a well-deserved first braai meal together as a family.
Training took place from the 28-30
January 2015 at the Education Hall, Bellville campus from 9h30-15h30 each day. Peer Educators received training in the following areas over the 3 day training;
• Peer Education [Dr H Vember]
• Basic HIV & AIDS, STI and prevention [M. Hara]
• HIV Testing & Treatment [S. Kola]
• TB & Medical Male Circumcision [D. Esau & T. Sterling TB/HIV Care]
• HIV Stigma & Disclosure [B. Peter]
This training provided the students with the necessary foundation needed to successfully implement interventions as 2015 Peer Educators. Training takes place throughout the year building on this foundation and their skills.
Leadership Training was held on Saturday, 21 February 2015
facilitated by Heidi Wichman from Student Counselling Department. Peer Educators had the opportunity to explore their leadership styles, strengths and areas for improvement through interesting activities and insightful tasks.
The HIV/AIDS UNIT would like to thank all the training facilitators who have contributed to the growth and development of these young leaders, the 2015 Peer Educators.
We would also like to acknowledge all the Peer Educators who have all selflessly given of their time and shown such great commitment to giving back to CPUT, and being the change they want to see in the world,
Siyabonga!
StI
& condom Week
In South Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a big problem, even though most of them can be cured.
The fear of being stigmatized is one of the many reasons why people are reluctant to seek medical treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
STI & Condom Week is a National Health Awareness Campaign aimed not only at reducing the spread of STIs but also to curb the spread of HIV.
At CPUT STI & Condom Week took place from the 10-13 February 2015 at the Mowbray, Athlone, Bellville and Cape Town Campuses.
The HIV/AIDS Unit’s Peer Educators and staff had information stalls at the various campuses with the primary focus to educate staff and students on correct, consistent condom use, provide information and break the stigma around STIs and encourage them to get tested for HIV and be screened for STIs and TB.
Many students who visited our information stall were not 100% sure of all the steps involved in ensuring that a condom is correctly used, and were able to see demonstrations of how to correctly use the male or female condom.
It is important to remember that a condom does not ensure safe sex, but rather it is a condom + knowledge & action of how to correctly use it that = SAFER SEX.
HIV/AIDS Unit spreads love on Valentine’s Day
Peer Educators at the Cape Town campus decorated the information stall in true Valentine’s Day theme, and even spread some love by giving free hugs!
Students were also asked to write a message for a stranger on a heart shaped card that was provided, and they were able to take a message for themselves too. This initiated a discussion about love, and highlighted that there are many different ways to show love and that it is not only directed to an intimate partner.
Students were also encouraged to
define what love means to them, by completing the sentence “Love is…”
Continued education around STIs and safer sex practices will continue throughout the year at the various interventions facilitated by the HIV/ AIDS Unit Peer Educators. Remember you are welcome to pop in at our offices, if you need any information, advice or to get condoms, dental dams & lubrication.
CPUT offers free Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC)
BY NASIPHI BASHE
Peer Educator Luchulumanco Nanto accompanied by Health Promoter Bonile Peter, attended an interview at the CPUT radio to promote the VMMC programme that was launched by the HIV/AIDS Unit and Campus Clinic on 28 July 2014 at the Cape Town Campus.
This was done in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health (DOH), TB/HIV Care Association and CareWorks.
The interview gave insight as well as informed and educated its target audience about the purpose and health benefits of the programme which is directed at the CPUT male community who are either not circumcised or partially circumcised.
VMMC is the full removal of the foreskin, fully exposing the head of the penis. It is one of the oldest
practises in the world, and it is done for religious, cultural, social and medical reasons.
Research has proven that VMMC:
• Reduces a man’s risk of contracting HIV by up to 60%
• Reduces the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• Reduces the risk of penile cancer
• Reduces the risk of cervical cancer in women
It is important to remember that VMMC does not fully eliminate the risk of contracting HIV; you still need to use a condom every time you have sex!
If you are interested kindly contact Mr Qhosho at QhoshoM@cput. ac.za or [email protected]
See our webpage for more information https://www.cput.ac.za/ students/life/hiv/circumcision
Peer Education Officer CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit
BUZZZZZZ ABOUT TB!!!
BY LUCHULUMANCO NANTO
On the 24th of March, World Tuberculosis day, CPUT Peer Educators showed its support by joining Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and other civil society movements including Sonke Gender Justice, diamond Life Projects, Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Taskforce, the People’s Health Movement, Médecins Sans frontières (MSf) ,the United front, desmond Tutu HIV foundation.
“We are marching to ask MPs to show their solidarity with the people by getting tested for TB,” TAC said in the memorandum. Many people in our communities still die of TB. According to Statistics South Africa, TB is the most commonly reported cause of death in South Africa. We know that if things do not change dramatically, many of us marching today will die of TB.”
According to TAC, in 2012, 8.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.3 million died because of TB. It is a leading killer of people living with HIV causing one fifth of all deaths.
1.3 million died in 2012
Carrying banners with messages “Better TB treatment now”, “We die of TB”, “MPs = TB suspects”, marchers burst into song through the streets of Cape Town from Keizersgracht to Parliament.
The memo was handed to Deputy Secretary of Parliament, Ms Baby Tyawa by TAC member Phumeza Runeyi.
IN THE MEMORANdUM TAC dEMANdS THE fOLLOWING:
• The availability of Multi drug TB treatment
• decentralization of XdR and MdR treatment/care and services
• Better diagnostic tools for MdR & XdR patients
• TB in prisons (Better management of TB in prison)
• Access to multi drug TB treatment
The organisations called on the Department of Health to improve access to treatment. They asked the Department of Justice and Correctional Services to deal with overcrowding in prisons. The Department of Trade and Industry were asked to reform the patent laws so that TB medicines would become more affordable.
The Departments of Mineral Resources and Public Works were asked to improve air quality and ventilation in mines, prisons, hospitals and other public buildings. Lastly, the Department of Science and Technology were asked to increase research into new TB medicines.
dId you knoW did you know CPUT Campus Clinic provide fREE contraceptives to female students? ?
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
CPUT HIV & AI d S Unit Launch the HOPE Structure
BY BONGIWE MBEKI
The HIV & AIdS Unit and Student Counselling in collaboration with AlAnon launched the HOPE Structure at the Cape Town Campus on 4 May 2015 which was organised by 2nd year Public Relations Intern; Bongiwe Mbeki & Peer Education Officer, MelaniAnn Hara.
The aim of the launch was to create awareness around Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and provide information on support services available.
The launch was part of a bigger campaign focussing on Alcohol & Substance Abuse which included a number of interventions at CPUT residences in Cape Town and Bellville.
Members from Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous shared their experiences with students and educated us around the dangers of addiction. The Launch was centred on AlAnon’s HOPE structure which has been based outside the Student Centre at the Cape Town Campus since 8th April.
The HOPE structure aims to raise awareness around problem drinking and bring hope and offer support to those with a drinking problem as well as to the family members.
Speakers on the day included: - Janice from Al-Anon who shared the perspective of how alcohol abuse affects the family - Babalo Nomana the LSRC Chairperson endorsed the campaign - Poetry performance by Yongama (student)
The HOPE launch was a great success, with many students showing interest in the structure and listening to the messages shared on the day.
CPUT HIV & AIDS Unit and Student Counselling would like to thank Al-Anon for their continued support and their dedication to create awareness and provide support to those affected by problem drinking.
The HOPE Structure will be moved to Bellville campus in the new semester.
I MPORTANT CONTACT d ETAILS
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 PROMOTER
BONILE PETER
Bellville Office
Tel +27 21 959 6898/6828
Location (opposite Tabeisa Cafe)
Cape Town Office
Tel +27 21 460 4252/3
Location Administration Building 2nd Floor (opposite Applications Office)
