Teaching responsibility early: HIV education reaches AB Phokompe Secondary
Grade 12 learners at AB Phokompe Secondary School in Mohlakeng received vital lessons on HIV, responsibility and support systems, thanks to a powerful outreach by Teta and partners.
The Transport Education Training Authority (Teta) hosted an outreach at AB Phokompe Secondary School to educate children at a young age about HIV/Aids.
Haremakale Ramakhetheng, strategy project officer for Teta, explained that they aim to teach skills and competencies to assist the youth with their future.
“The youth is the future skill force, workforce and leaders. With this initiative, we want to create awareness of the challenges of HIV and Aids among the youth as well as teach them about being responsible,” she said.
She noted that the hope is that by teaching children at a young age, they will know to be responsible in the future.
The school’s deputy principal, Mashudu Muntswu, stated, “It is a privilege to have been considered. We believe that by exposing the learners to this awareness initiative, it will benefit them along their journey.”
Nomfundiso Phoshoko, Muntswu’s colleague, said, “HIV and Aids affect our society and the country at large, including the economy due to the expenses of taking care of those affected. We hope that the children will be respectable citizens and look after themselves.”
Muntswu added that they only wished the talk was accessible to the entire school instead of only the Grade 12 learners, as he believes children of all ages should be made aware of the dangers of HIV and Aids.
Bethuel Munyai, speaker of the West Rand District Municipality, showed his support for the initiative and added that they hope it aids both learners and teachers.
“We want the youth to get information on the disease and teach them about abstinence from a tender age, as they are the demographic mostly affected by HIV and Aids. We want to create awareness for the available medications and remind them they can get support from both their parents and the government,” he said.
Dipuo Ngakane, co-ordinator for health and social development at the West Rand District Municipality, said they aim to raise awareness and educate the broader community.
“Learners lose their lives at an early age due to HIV and Aids, and we would like them to know this doesn’t have to be the case. There is support to prolong the lives of those affected, including health institutions, NPOs and NGOs,” Ngakane concluded.
