The MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé who is also the Political Champion of UMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker, Ms Peggy Nkonyeni, Deputy Speaker, Mr Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, together with all leaders of uMgungundlovu District commemorated the World AIDS Day in Mooi River today under the theme “Getting to Zero”.
The district leadership was joined by the delegation from the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, which is one of Africa’s hardest hit countries, who shared their experiences with the community of the uMgungundlovu District.
The hall was full of people who were ready to share their experiences regarding living with the virus. According to the report from Operation Sukuma Sakhe initiative, uMgungundlovu District is one of the districts with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the province as it has 42,2% HIV and AIDS prevalence.
Ms Nokuthula Dlamini (076 714 0817) who is 21, from Rietvlei, found out last year when she was pregnant that she is HIV positive.
“The World AIDS Day motivates us, as youth - especially the youth that live with HIV and AIDS, to live our lives properly because having AIDS does not mean the end of the world. My message to the youth that is not HIV positive is that they must stick to their studies, have one boyfriend, be faithful and abstain. Never have many boyfriends, never drink and sleep around because that was my downfall.
“To those who are already living with HIV and AIDS, do not be shy. Speak out because it sets you free,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini is taking care of her sick and blind father as well as her child. No one is working in her family as she dropped out of school from grade 10 because schools were far and often she had no bus fare. Her dream is to be an HIV and AIDS Ambassador in her area and advise the youth on challenges of living with HIV and AIDS and to encourage them to stay negative.
Mrs Funani Nkomo (52) from KwaMqenula at Mooi River, is taking care of her granddaughter who is HIV positive.
“My daughter died of AIDS and left me with her sick child. What makes things worse is the thought that I am not only HIV positive, but I am really sick. Having to walk to the clinic to collect my medication is straining me. I end up taking her grant to feed the household and also to cure myself. But a day like this calls for communities to come together and pray to God for doctors to find the cure,” she said.
Welcoming and appreciating the presence of the Lesotho delegation, MEC Cronjé said we want to do everything that will help us achieve zero new infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination.
“As government, we spend millions of rands, treating people who are infected with HIV and AIDS. We will not stop this and we will not discriminate against them. But we do not want this to be a vicious circle. We must stop new infections. But we expect everyone to take responsibility for own lives. I want us to go out there and make a difference,” said Cronjé.
Six hardest hit families from Mooi River received R1 000 grocery vouchers and seeds while they wait for new houses to be built and child support and foster care grants to start next year.
The Mayor of uMgungundlovu District Municipality, Cllr Yusuf Bamjee, said the community must come together and not only fight HIV and AIDS, but must also expose people who sexually abuse children as this is one of the ways that spreads the virus.
“There is only one way of fighting HIV and AIDS and that is through educating and empowering our people. All of us must therefore do something to achieve this,” he said.
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