HIV is not a DEATH SENTENCE

You might not know it from watching the news or listening to lawmakers, but AIDS is still a crisis. Nearly 37 million people are living with HIV today, and more than 15 million of them still can’t get life-saving treatment. Within South Africa, 50,000 people die of AIDS related complications every year, and the country has an 18% Adult HIV prevelance.


Just playing a numbers game, each of you listening right now knows someone who has been infected with the HIV virus or is suffering from AIDS.


The SakhiSizwe team spoke with Ms Barbara Kingsley an HIV+ Activist and Educator whose own journey battling the virus has inspired many through her talks, and more recently her book ‘I am Human’. She spoke to us about a variety of cultural stereotypes about people living with HIV/AIDS and also what the appropriate terminology to use is.



Her own story was inspiring, as she lived in denial for years after her diagnosis before going on ARV treatment. She also talked about the important role long distance running has played in her life, and how she has used her platform to educate and inspire hundreds of people living with the diagnosis to take back control of their lives.


There are many misconceptions that exist around AIDS and it is the responsibility of activist's, schools, and the government to educate and spread awareness about this important topic so that people with AIDS and HIV can lead life with dignity and have positive sexual and community relationships.


Click on the video below to listen to this interview:


Produced by : Madhav Prakash

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rudy van Dieman to summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage

Image
Rudy van Dieman, who has partnered with Angels South Africa, an organisation based in Colorado Park, Mitchells Plain, will summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage. Angels SA wants to purchase a house that will become a safe house for children. ‘’Farieda Moses, [Founder of AngelsSA] has been a role model to me since I knew her. She took us on a camp and we stayed in contact after that ,and we done various charity work together. Just her will, and her strength that I see in her - she wants to make such a big change, but don’t have the necessary tools, so it will take years to fund her dream, and I came up with the crazy idea to give it a year and do my part to raise those funds and build that house,’’ said van Dieman. He aims to raise R1 Million through backabuddy https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/angels-sa-project-365 PICTURED: Rudy van Dieman Sakhi Sizwe · Rudy Van Dieman summits Table Mountain to raise funds to ...
Read more

800 million people around the world are living with obesity.

Image
  4th of March is observed as World Obesity Day and we spoke to CEO Professor Pamela Naidoo and Dietitian Kinza Hussian from The Heart and Stroke Foundation.  So according to the World Obesity Federation, 800 million people around the world are living with obesity. And then also in South Africa almost 65% of women and 30% of men are classified as being overweight or obese. So being overweight or obese increases your risk of having a heart disease or even a stroke, as well as numerous other health problems including high blood pressure or diabetes.  Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the body, but it's also very important, you know, where that fat lies.  Bear in mind checking body mass index is something which I'm sure most people are aware of, it's that quick calculation everyone can just do, which is your weight in kgs divided by your height in meter squared, so if that number is greater than 30, that's when we'd say someone's ob...
Read more

In May we recognize Child Protection Week!

Image
Child Protection Week is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about the rights and well-being of children. It typically includes a series of events, campaigns, and activities aimed at promoting child safety, preventing abuse, and advocating for policies and practices that support children's healthy development.  Molo Songololo is a registered non-profit organization that promotes the rights and protection of children and youth, and especially girls. Their work aligns with the goals of Child Protection Week, focusing on advocacy, education, and empowerment to create a safer and more inclusive environment for children. Sakhisizwe got to speak with Patric from Molo Songololo. In our conversation we discussed the programs they have implemented to support children's rights and protection looking specifically about their programs for young girls who are the most at risk. We were informed of their collaborations with local communities, schools, and government agencies a...
Read more