UMBILO and Glenwood’s Ward 33 youth leaders hosted a World Aids day programme on Sunday, 8 December at Bulwer Park in Glenwood. The programme was part of global events that commemorated those that have passed on because of the disease and also showed support for those living with HIV.
Despite a poor turnout, which organisers attributed to the bad weather and death of former president Nelson Mandela, they said they would continue to make the community aware of the disease and unite to fight it.
PR Councillor for the ward, Julie Mulqueeny said the World Health organisation’s theme this year was to get HIV Aids down to zero. “We want to focus on special sectors of young people and the so called sex workers.
“Young people continue to be vulnerable to HIV infection. This is especially true for young women who seem to face a higher risk of infection than young men. Commemorating World Aids Day and planning for follow ups is very ideal in our ward. We have a high population of young people especially girls. There is the increasing challenge of prostitution and drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise.” said Mulqueeny.
This year’s theme is Getting Down to Zero, which is a true proclamation that when communities get together hand in hand we can truly beat this pandemic and live in an AIDS free society.
Youth leaders, Thabo Kadikadi, said he was looking forward to interacting and speaking to the youth about Aids. “It’s important to dialogue on how it affects us all as young people and we wanted to know their feelings on the stats,” he added.
Durban motivational speaker Delarise Mulqueeny said it was always important to have a face to an illness so people can identify. “Aids transcends over race, religion, class or gender! I wrote my book on my experiences being positive to empower and uplift people showing them you can live positively. I also wanted to educate, de-stigmatise and debunk any myths about the disease.”
An international counsellor, Mulqueeny said her personal purpose, to make a difference in people’s lives is fulfilled every day. “It is not important how people contract HIV, it angers me when people ask that question because it is an invasive question and irrelevant. The point is what can be done now,” she said.
