Bellavista Clinic hosts World Aids Day awareness campaign
HIV Councillor living with AIDS, Sabelo Nzima, advised residents of the South not to fear the virus and knowing their status.
RESIDENTS of Bellavista enjoyed an insightful day at the Bellavista Clinic during an awareness campaign on World Aids Day, Tuesday, December 1.
Ward 55 councillor Rashieda Landis was among the nurses and sisters educating residents of the South about living with the virus.
People visiting the clinic received valuable information from experts.
HIV counsellor and guest speaker, Sabelo Mzima, encouraged residents not to fear knowing their status and to protect themselves and their partners.
Sabelo said to the crowd: “I encourage you to get tested for HIV and know your status. I have been living with HIV for eight years and I have never been sick from HIV a day in my life because I was able to know my status earlier. People will not use your status to discriminate against you. There is no real need to to spend a lot of money on private doctors because you fear that the nurses will see you or judge you, because these nurses are trained professionals who will not judge you, but guide you. The treatment you will get from a private doctors is, in fact, just the same as the one you can get at your local clinic,”
World Aids Day gives millions of people around the world an opportunity to lean more about the epidemic and the lifestyles in which those living with the virus can endorse to further prolong their lives. South Africa is one of the world’s most affected countries and serious awareness steps are being taken by the City of Johannesburg Region F Health Department to ensure that knowledge is shared across all clinics in the region, about how the virus can be contained and managed.
“Another important thing people must know is that sending someone to fetch your treatment is not a good idea. Be it HIV/Aids or other chronic diseases. I know it is not always easy or possible but try your best because being present gives the nurses an opportunity to check your weight, blood pressure and other body conditions, hence allowing them to give you the right treatment for someone in your conditions. You do not want to find your body resisting treatment all because you were never checked and you have been taking treatment not suitable for your current condition,” Sabe added.
