SABIE – The campaign, aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence in the province held
its provincial girl’s camp at Sabie Floreat Lodge. The vision is to encourage
young girls to draw their inner strength, power and self confidence and to know
what they stand for in order to guide their decisions about their future. The
three-days camp left so many girls confessing to abstain from what they used to do before joining this ZAZI initiative and pledged to teach other young people about the importance of knowing yourself.
According to MEC for Health and
Social Development Ms. Candith Mashego-Dlamini, if she had her own way she would gather all the girls and redirect their way of thinking and make them quit all the things they used to do immediately. “To all the young beautiful women in our province, we want to say, you can also be a role model to others. If you can seriously look within yourself you’ll realise that you have the power to educate others to change behaviours and help shape the future for women and girls.” she said.
The girls were motivated by Lesego Motsepe who was acting as Lettie
Matabane in Isidingo, who said since disclosing about her status two
years ago, no one has been interested in the individual she is. “I had carried
the disease for 15 years, but decided to reveal the truth two years ago because
I was tired of living in fear.” she said. She added that a lot of young people
want to experience different things and that is why they end up engaging in
unprotected sex and contracting other diseases. “As ambassadors of ZAZI I want you to be strong, lean on one another and tell the people the truth and also get
tested.” Miss Mpumalanga, Ntandoyenkosi Kunene who is also behind this
initiative says, “Make the decision that from today you will be a better person
and change, be a better person for yourself and for your future.” If you make
the decision to start afresh then you have to know yourself first.” The
department is working tirelessly to increase HIV testing and reduce the number
of young people more especially young women who become infected with the
disease. We are working to improve access to care and optimise health outcomes for all people living with HIV. “Alcohol and drug abuse leads young women to have unprotected sex. We have situations where older men are playing a major role in providing our beautiful girls with money to indulge in drugs and alcohol. They take advantage of these future women of our nation. Today we are here to say “your inner strength and power will guide to make good decisions
about your futures,” Mashego-Dlamini. Speaking to some of the girls, Lindiwe
Baloyi said she is ready to spread Zazi because she doesn’t want to see other
young girls repeating the mistakes she made while she was still enjoying life
before zazi, “ I want to leave this world knowing that I made a girl succeed
without being dependent on older men,” she concluded. Mashego-Dlamini said if possible each Municipality will have to recruit more than 50 to get tested and
the winning municipality will receive a reward on world AIDS day that will be
held at Ermelo.
