Despite the fact that the recent higher education HIV/Aids survey results indicated that Rhodes students have a low HIV/Aids prevalence, students and staff refuse to allow this to be an excuse to become complacent.
Rhodes students (and staff) came out in full force to test their individual wellness and HIV status in a massive wellness drive (5 to 14 May 2010) organised in conjunction with National Government. The wellness drive included free tests for diabetes, high blood pressure, iron, Tuberculosis and HIV/Aids. The first day of testing saw over 300 students and staff coming forward to get tested.
As part of the ongoing fight against HIV/Aids the Dean of Students Office has been reviewing its HIV/Aids policy and the Terms of Reference for the Rhodes HIV/Aids Committee. “This has been a major step in the process,” says Beth Vale, the Dean of Students HIV Advocacy Officer.
Other initiatives planned by SHARC (The Student HIV/Aids Resistance Campaign) to keep the momentum going include “same-sex-safe-sex” discussion groups and peer educator workshops taking place in July this year. There is also a peer educator practical day planned.
In August SHARC will be focussing on HIV and women, which will include display boards, ongoing debate and discussions, and a cheese & wine.
SHARC and the Dean of Students Office have planned activities for every day during Aids Week which runs from 15 to 21 August. There will be a Safe Sexpo, which will feature counselling and discussions around being sexually safe in your relationship, as well as ongoing condom distribution, a talk by the Minister of Health and a mixed media exhibition and auction to raise funds.
Aids Week is planned to end (on Sunday 21 August) with all SHARC members getting together to discuss the challenges and successes emanating from the events of the week.
In October there will be discussions and workshops around: ‘How your environment affects you with regards to HIV and the truth behind the beetroot diet”.
As part of her job description, Beth says that as the new HIV Advocacy Officer in the Dean of Students Office, she “will be liaising with various stakeholders in our intervention scheme (CADRE, the Dean of Students office, Health Care Centre, Counselling Centre, SHARC, Student Representative Council, Community Engagement, etc.) to make sure that our intervention programmes continue to improve and that we have increased coordination among those involved in HIV-related work.
“My task will also be to provide administrative support for SHARC in terms of the peer education programme and the roll-out of condoms.”
Further, the Dean of Students office will also be running some creative campaigns next term including a poster making competition for HIV awareness posters, which will offer a fantastic prize to students.