Kempton Park Child Welfare marks Aids Day
Many are children are being taken advantage of, and ended contracting HIV/Aids.
KEMPTON Park Child Welfare has marked World Aids Day with an awareness campaign for vulnerable children in its care.
Held at the welfare’s premises on Maxwell Road on December 1, the campaign focused on children with HIV/Aids.
Director of the centre, Makha Thusi, said World Aids Day was a very special day for the welfare to raise awareness.
“We wanted to be counted among the masses worldwide that are commemorating this day, particularly because we deal with children who have been abandoned, abused and neglected.”
Thusi said most of the children under the care of the organisation have been trafficked, while some of them have been used for prostitution. She said some of them have been exposed to teenage pregnancy.
“During the course of their lives, they contract this virus – especially from unscrupulous people who often take advantage of them. One can imagine that children are highly vulnerable and in danger of contracting HIV/Aids when they are used for prostitution.
“So, we thought it would be wise for us as social workers to equip ourselves with knowledge and skills of how to ensure that children are saved, secured and protected. We want to make sure that HIV/Aids does not come any closer to them.”
Dorah Seakamela, a professional nurse of Bonaero Park, who did a presentation said: “There are many children who are falling pregnant at a very young. It is quite evident that these children are being taken advantage of. At the end, they are left with infections.”
Seakamela also said some of the children were also raped and ended up with the virus. “People should be willing to have blood tests for HIV/Aids and ensure that their CD4 count is not low,” Seakamela advised.
Makha Thusi said the welfare organisation was committed to ensuring that the well-being, health and the future of the children were sustained.
“We are very proud as child welfare to have been joined by other healthcare professionals in our community. We believe that when we join hands, we will do more to nurture and protect the children,” Thusi added.
