Being ashamed, feeling guilty and being in denial about your HIV status can dramatically affect your life. These reactions are common among people who are afraid of the stigma surrounding this disease and many still find it difficult to come to terms with this pandemic. This condition affects one’s health by slowly killing one’s immune system.
The Stop Suffering Help Centre (SSHC) and New Start which is a non-governmental organisation that offers voluntary HIV testing and counselling have decided to confront the problem head on by running a campaign every Saturday in Johannesburg and surrounding areas. HIV is not an individual problem that only concerns a small group of people but it is one of universal concern.
Groups of youths from the Dobsonville UCKG and volunteers from SSHC will gather at shopping centre’s to distribute condoms while the New Start staff will offer free HIV testing and counselling to people.
New Start volunteers always emphasise the importance of knowing your HIV status. This message creates awareness of the dangers that are caused by not disclosing your status and being afraid to deal with the reality. More than 60 000 condoms were distributed in Dobsonville and many people were tested for HIV. Shoprite also participated in this campaign by serving people soup and bread.
The SSHC is also involved in other campaigns such as one where they have dedicated a week to reaching out to communities, teaching people about sexual transmitted infection (STI).
“It is good to see our objective being fulfilled and at the end of the day people return to their homes with information about this pandemic,” said Christina, a volunteer for SSHC. As SSHC and New Start continue their work, more lives will be saved and a more positive attitude will be encouraged.
Their message is clear “Show your support by making HIV/AIDS your concern. It is not an individual matter. Take part in this campaign by helping to distribute condoms and encourage people to be tested for HIV.”