Candlelight memorial day keeps the light on HIV
International Aids Candle Light Memorial Day was commemorated by The Aids Foundation and Dut HIV/Aids Centre at DUT's Steve Biko cmpus on Friday.
THE light was definitely kept on HIV and Aids at DUT’S Steve Biko campus on Friday afternoon when the DUT HIV/AIDS Centre and the Aids Foundation of SA, AFSA partnered to commemorate International Aids Candle Light Memorial Day.
Students as well as role players and Aids activists in the community were invited to the important event which is one of the oldest mobilisation campaigns to raise social consciousness around the pandemic since 1983. Naseem Haniff, director of Students Counselling and Heath at DUT said, ” The memorial day breaks down barriers of stigmatisation and pays tribute to those that lost the battle and those continuing the fight.”
DUT dedicated the International Candle Light Memorial Day to the late Jan “Mkhulu” de Groot, a volunteer who joined AFSA in 1994 after learning of his positive HIV status.
Jonathan de Groot, son of Mkhulu said, his father was his “best friend, mentor and hero” and knew he was a hero to the many he came into contact with as an Aids activist.
Debbie Mathew, director of AFSA said Mkhulu’s inspiring personality was sorely missed at the Foundation, but his legacy lives on in their daily work.
Student Nkule Sikhosana, was glad to have an opportunity to write a message of remembrance on the dedicated Remembrance Wall, to her dad, David who passed on from the pandemic.
