With few days remaining before the world delegates descend on Durban’s International Convention Centre for 2016 Aids Conference, the Political Champion of uMgungundlovu District, Belinda Scott, who is also MEC for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal, had stern words for parents and the youth in Richmond today.
Speaking at Smozomeni Community Hall in ward 6, Scott said it was about time communities strengthened their fight against the spread of HIV and Aids in Richmond.
“Poverty must not be allowed to encourage unsafe sexual behaviour in our youth. Teenage pregnancy is rife and with this, there are always dangers of contracting HIV. We need parents to take an interest in their children’s lives and be strict. The youth must know that protecting themselves against HIV/Aids is crucial. As the Deputy President of the country said: “one condom, one round. No condom, no play.”
A total of 853 Antenatal clients had an HIV test in 2015/16 and 21% of these females tested HIV positive. Only 13 % men tested HIV positive in the same period. With this high number of HIV infections, Richmond Municipality, working with various social structures, has recognised the need to bolster its efforts to combat HIV.
Scott visited Richmond to encourage communities to strengthen their fight against this scourge. While in Richmond, she visited two Non Profit Organisations that help in the care of children affected by different types of social ills. The first one was Hand Of Hope Centre for Children with Disabilities in ward 1 in town where she also donated stationary, FutureLife porridge and committed to buy them additional coat beds for the disabled frail children, and this was followed a visit to Richmond Day Care and Supportive Centre in eNdaleni area, ward 7 with much-needed donations as well.
During the past three months, Scott has been on district wide crusade, touring all municipalities under uMgungundlovu District with the same message and encouraging citizens to go to clinics to check their status and pleading with those already affected to approach health centres for ARVs. Scott will wrap up her district crusade on HIV and Aids with a visit to Mkhambathini and Mpofana municipalities soon.
Deputy Mayor of Richmond, Philile Ngcobo said the fight against the spread of HIV/Aids required united action from all communities.
“We cannot win this war if we do not join hands as communities. Our role as leadership is to encourage the creation of partnerships that will help win this war”.
With its history of political violence, Richmond struggles to deal with various social ills which include teenage pregnancy, spread of HIV/Aids, Child-headed households, drug and alcohol abuse.
Enquiries:
Sibonelo Msomi
Cell: 072587 1947
Musa Cebisa
Cell: 071 6878 777
