TAC Phalaborwa branch on HIV education
An educational session in one of the household at Lulekani Township
I recently managed to attend a branch campaign at Phalaborwa, Lulekani Township, 28 July 2011. When we arrive myself, Jennifer and Petronella we were exhausted by the way the condition was, it was unfairly hot. I’m saying unfairly hot because it was still part of winter season but unbearably hot.
Enough with the weather condition, now let’s get down to what I get paid to write about. This was another fascinating branch campaign. Immediately when we met TAC Phalaborwa’s Community Health Advocate, Shine Mabuza, she immediately paired us with a branch member, Ivy to go house-by-house educating members of the households about HIV and AIDS. In our first house, I didn’t know where to start since I have not formed part of the pre-campaign briefing, so I allowed Ivy begin the education in our first house.
My interest in this house was to observe the reactions of the members of the household. In this house we met a young man of about 17 years who by the way he is dressed, you could conclude that he has just woke up. He came outside with just a trouser with no top (shirt or T-shirt). When we told him that our visit could take a bit of his time, he then went into the house and put a T-shirt on.
When Ivy, a member of Phalaborwa branch started to introduce the topic of HIV, the young man raised some eyebrows a bit with a mix of a giggle. When asked why was he laughing, he said “I’m just interested in the topic, on offense”. Ivy continued and explained what she knows about HIV also engaging the young man by asking his some questions. Later on the young man asked what could happen if one sleeps with someone who is pregnant with somebody else. It was then that I started to understand the reason for the giggle at first place. I guess it was because he or someone close to him has recently been involved in such act.
The above situation is one of many risky behaviors that us young people engages in and which we tend to regret later. Even when we, you find that we do not go for HIV Counseling and Testing.
These are some of the reasons why TAC branches continue to provide educational sessions for our communities in a form of door-to-door campaigns to re-enforce the importance of taking an HIV test.
I believe that an HIV test is a way to go for young people and any other responsible adults.
See how Homu Branch have conducted their HIV Testing and Counseling Campaign
Blog post by Adam Malapa, TAC Mopani Communications Officer
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