KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance Belinda Scott leads by example
Umgungundlovu District Political Champion, Mrs Belinda Scott, who is also KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance displayed her leadership qualities today when she led the people in Maqongqo (Mkhambathini Local Municipality) to test for HIV status.
MEC Scott told the people who descended on kwaXimba to commemorate the World Aids Day that the only way to know one’s status is by testing. She said a key driver in achieving zero HIV infections and zero Aids-related deaths is for people to know their status.
MEC Scott tested for HIV and AIDS and threw the gauntlet to all uMgungundlovu District leaders to lead by example by testing for HIV and AIDS even before they could start preaching about it to the people they are leading.
“Leaders must start practicing what they preach, what is the use of telling people to test if you are not doing it yourself? KZN has the highest burden of diseases which include HIV/AIDS, TB, and STIs. According to the 2011 survey uMgungundlovu is leading in the province with a high Antenatal HIV prevalence of 40.7%. The district tested 123 845 people between April and September this year and 17 023 tested positively,” said MEC Scott addressing who was addressing a fully-packed Inkosi Msinga Mlaba Indoor Sports Centre in KwaXimba, Ward 1.
“One of the challenges that are facing our communities is stigmatism and this calls for us as government and communities to embark on a vigorous training campaign which will include traditional healers, Amakhosi and our elderly people to change their opinions about getting tested for HIV and AIDS.
“In a bid of preventing further infections a Multi–Sectoral Provincial Strategic Plan (PSP) for HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB was established with a theme - Zero New HIV Infection, Zero HIV related deaths and Zero discrimination. The Operation Sukuma Sakhe model which is in line with PSP was designed to address the critical areas of community participation, integrated services delivery, behaviour change, economic empowerment and environment care,” she said.
“This is a year against stigmatism; let us work together as government and communities to stop branding people that are living with HIV and embrace them in our community with love and care,” concludes MEC Scott.
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