The Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana will be visiting the Mnambithi FET College, Ezakheni Campus in Ladysmith on 25 February 2013. Members of the media are invited. The Deputy Minister will deliver a keynote address on ‘The role of the Higher Education and Training sector in promoting HIV/AIDS testing in post-school learning institutions’.
The purpose of this visit is to encourage students at further education and training (FET) colleges to test for HIV. First year students in particular will be encouraged to test for HIV because they may be exposed to new environments which requires them to be responsible considering HIV risk factors like unprotected sex and alcohol and substance abuse.
“As the Ministry of Higher Education and Training, we would like to see this campaign taken to all the FET Colleges because they cater for the most vulnerable members of society who are significantly susceptible to HIV infection”, says Deputy Minister Manana.
The “First Things First” campaign speaks to the priority of HIV counselling and testing, as well as screening for tuberculosis (TB) given the high co-infection rate between HIV and TB and the interface between treatment and prevention for both.
The campaign was launched in 2011 and is led by the Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) as a public-private partnership initiative involving Innovative Medicines South Africa (IMSA); the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD); the Department of Higher Education and Training; the Department of Health and the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).
“As the Ministry we decided to visit an FET college because there is a need to extend the campaign beyond universities. Our target in 2013 is to test up to 70 000 people within the post-school education and training sector, including students, academics and service and administrative staff. In 2012 the campaign succeeded in testing 66 496 people for HIV.
As part of the programme, participants receive pre-test and post-test counselling by qualified personnel. The campaign is supported by a variety of promotional elements including an educative product.
During the visit, the Deputy Minister will lead campaign participants and supporters in signing a pledge wall, committing themselves to “know our status (through on-going HIV testing); to stop HIV/AIDS stigma; and to contribute to the struggle against HIV and AIDS”.
Enquiries:
Kagisho Mamabolo
Tel: 012 312 6339
Fax: 012 326 1161
Cell: 071 600 2864 or 071 304 8103
E-mail: mamabolo.k@dhet.gov.za
