Help Centre in collaboration with New Start Give a helping hand
New Start is South Africa’s largest non-profit HIV counselling and testing programme. Since June 2008 they have been working together with the Universal Church’s social outreach programme, Stop Suffering Help Centre (SSHC). On 29th August 2009 New Start and the SSHC held a campaign during which they offered free HIV tests. The Universal News had the opportunity to speak to the senior counsellor of New Start, Zandile Zulu, to find out more about the organisation. New Start was launched in 2004 to reach out to all the communities to inform them about this deadly disease that is affecting our country and the African continent as a whole.
South African statistics (www.avert.org) confirm that the percentage of females who test positive is estimated at 13.6% and males at 7.9%. When we asked Zandile her opinion on working with the SSHC, this is what she had to say: “It has helped New Start a lot because every time we have campaigns, people volunteer in large numbers and they spread a positive attitude even to those who are reluctant to come and test. We are always grateful and love working with the Help Centre.”
New Start has 16 branches across South Africa and volunteers which are recruited from the community. Not all community members can become volunteers, as they have to have a social work background, or be students who have studied psychology. Celebrity volunteers such as Da Les, DJ Fresh and Lira work with New Start because, as well-known public figures, they can reach more people to encourage them to find out their HIV status. New Start has plans to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS all over the world. For more information on where you can find a New Start close to you, SMS the word HIV and your postal code to 31771.
Article by: Nikiwe Titus