Lydenburg clinic and SAPS stand together.

MASHISHING – In the light of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against women and children, the local clinic in cooperation with the SAPS and traditional healers, emphasised the importance of reporting all forms of abuse and the significance of being tested and treated for HIV and Aids.

In an attempt to curb the dreaded disease which claimed 178 373 (31,9%) lives in 2013 (Stats SA), members of the community were educated and informed about this issue. According to Julia Tebele, deputy manager of the Mashishing Clinic, people are still very ignorant. “Many of those who visit our clinic tell us straight that they don’t want to know their status.”

She believes that people are afraid of what the outcome might be. “We shouldn’t be diagnosing new HIV-infected people on a daily base, but unfortunately it is a reality. Instead of HIV decreasing, it is actually on the increase.”

Tebele said there was no significant growth in reported abuse cases but a lot of girls who came to the clinic had vaginal discharges. “It is only when we start digging deeper that we realise that some form of abuse has taken place, usually with older men.” She believes that poverty is one of the biggest contributors to the spread of the disease.

“Women in poor communities are very dependent on financial support which men usually provide,” She said they had seen many cases where the woman, who is usually a second wife or partner and who has children of her own, can’t get out of the relationship due to threats that all financial support will be withdrawn if he can’t sleep with her daughters.

“People have no idea how bad the situation is. Just when we think we’ve taken three steps forward, we take five steps back.” Tebele urges people to make HIV awareness an integrated part of children’s education and immediately come to the clinic if they encounter any problems. “People should feel comfortable at our clinic and realise that we really do want to help them”, she said.