Students commit to fighting Aids epidemic
CALL TO ACTION: Speakers who addressed the 2016 HIV/Aids Youth Leadership Conference at the Bellville Campus recently
Monday, 14 March 2016
Students from universities and TVET Colleges around the Western Cape have committed themselves to tackling the Aids epidemic head on by engaging in issues of unprotected sex , sexual and gender-based violence, substance abuse, HIV testing and other free health related services offered at the conference .
These and other ideas to end HIV infection were discussed vigorously during the recent HIV/Aids Youth Leadership Conference which CPUT hosted on the Bellville Campus.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural conference, the theme of this year’s conference was: You can be the difference.
Attended by student leaders from CPUT, UWC, Stellenbosch University, False Bay College, Boland College and the College of Cape Town, the conference’s sponsors included Higher Education Aids (HEAIDS), The Global Fund, NACOSA and DHET.
The CPUT SRC announced its fundraising initiative to alleviate hunger among the students which they link to the spread of HIV.
“We thus call upon Higher Education AIDS to partner up with us in this initiative that will go a long way in making strides to tackling the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in higher education,” said Central SRC President, Sibusiso Thwala,.”
Delivering the keynote address, Alex Semba from HEAIDS, said educated youth are a stronger force of transformation in their communities than their peers.
He said they intend to train 7 000 Peer Educators in universities ad TVET Colleges this year.
International Aids Society’s Dr Memory Muturiki called for increased private sector support ad donor funding and encouraged young people to express their views on tackling HIV/Aids.
The conference also featured satellite sessions and panel discussions focusing on pertinent issues of LGBTQI, Innovative methods of reaching youth and Leadership Development.
Two students from CPUT and False Bay College won an all-expenses paid trip to the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban.
Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: butanak@cput.ac.za
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