Date: 01/08/2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Ramokgopa: Wedding of Gauteng couple living with HIV/AIDS
ADDRESS BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, AT THE WEDDING OF A COUPLE LIVING WITH HIV, Friday, 1 August 2003
I want to congratulate the newly weds, Mr. and Mrs. Ndlovu for the giant leap of hope they have taken to get married, and Kaya Fm and its listeners for making this day possible. A hearty gratitude must also go to Cecilia Sato who made the call that triggered a response and made this possible.
This wedding is indeed a confirmation of the fact that we still live in a society which continues to compartmentalise and stigmatise people. Has any one of us ever been invited to a wedding ceremony of two diabetics? And the invitation spelt it out that the two who are about to give themselves to each other in the union of marriage are diabetics? These questions are pertinent because we as human beings have a tendency to pass irrevocable final judgment once a person has been diagnosed as HIV positive.
But today we are seeing the evidence that is society is slowly beginning to people living with HIV. This is supported by surveys we have done in the Gauteng Health Department which show that 80 percent of people in the province are now willing to look after someone with HIV and AIDS.
This therefore is a marriage of hope and a celebration of friendship. A celebration of friendship because of Cecilia's initiative. Hope because this is evidence that it is possible to a live long productive life with HIV. Mrs. Ndlovu here has been living with this virus for 13 years and her husband for six.
Whether one ascribes it to religious values or not, hope is one virtue which sustains humanity against all odds. Your human attributes have not been diminished by contracting HIV. You were capable of falling in love in spite of your so called condition. You took a drastic step of entering into marital union as human beings do at certain stages of their lives. You have aspirations and dreams about your future family life. All these aspirations and dreams are part of being human. In other words you are a testimony to the fact that where there is love there is a way. You are a sign of hope to those who feel that society has condemned them to lead the remaining years of their lives in misery.
Marital union is the only sacrament where recipients are also dispensers there of, and this involves denial of oneself in order to fulfil the needs of the other. As volunteers you know the value of support and I am certain that you will be able provide it to each other.
I have no doubt that you have learnt many lessons since becoming HIV positive and in your work as volunteers. I want to repeat so of them to reaffirm them to you and for the benefit of those who have come to give you support.
Firstly it is important for all of us to know our status. It is takes only 20 minutes to know your status if you approach public hospitals and clinics for free voluntary testing and counselling. Once you know that you are HIV negative then make sure that you remain so by adhering to our ABC prevention message. Abstain from sex as long as possible preferably until you get married. If you cannot try to be faithful and if you fail on these two methods then please use a Condom.
Secondly if you test positive accept your condition. The couple that is getting married here today did it and with counselling and support it is possible for everyone.
Thirdly learn as much as possible about the condition. If you do that you will know that it is possible to successfully treat every disease that may attack you even if you are HIV positive. TB can be cure even in HIV positive people.
Fourthly lead a healthy lifestyle. Eat good food, avoid stress, practice safe sex, give up alcohol and tobacco and seek medical attention as soon as you suspect that you are not well.
Fifthly build strong social support around yourself and plan the future with your family. This wedding become possible because of the support of a friend, therefore it is possible to keep the friendships and relations you have. If you feel you want to have children, think carefully and consult a counsellor who may be able to assist you with that decision.
I wish you a happy married life and hope that this marriage will sustain you as you do your work in your community caring for those who need you support. May you always remember Cecilia and Kaya FM listeners. To the KGB show and Kaya FM, you are indeed the Heart and Soul of Jozi and as the Gauteng Health Department we will always be ready to partner with you in other initiatives to improve the health of the people of Jozi.
Thank you.
For more information contact Simon Zwane on 082 551 9892
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government
1 August 2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Ramokgopa: Wedding of Gauteng couple living with HIV/AIDS
ADDRESS BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, AT THE WEDDING OF A COUPLE LIVING WITH HIV, Friday, 1 August 2003
I want to congratulate the newly weds, Mr. and Mrs. Ndlovu for the giant leap of hope they have taken to get married, and Kaya Fm and its listeners for making this day possible. A hearty gratitude must also go to Cecilia Sato who made the call that triggered a response and made this possible.
This wedding is indeed a confirmation of the fact that we still live in a society which continues to compartmentalise and stigmatise people. Has any one of us ever been invited to a wedding ceremony of two diabetics? And the invitation spelt it out that the two who are about to give themselves to each other in the union of marriage are diabetics? These questions are pertinent because we as human beings have a tendency to pass irrevocable final judgment once a person has been diagnosed as HIV positive.
But today we are seeing the evidence that is society is slowly beginning to people living with HIV. This is supported by surveys we have done in the Gauteng Health Department which show that 80 percent of people in the province are now willing to look after someone with HIV and AIDS.
This therefore is a marriage of hope and a celebration of friendship. A celebration of friendship because of Cecilia's initiative. Hope because this is evidence that it is possible to a live long productive life with HIV. Mrs. Ndlovu here has been living with this virus for 13 years and her husband for six.
Whether one ascribes it to religious values or not, hope is one virtue which sustains humanity against all odds. Your human attributes have not been diminished by contracting HIV. You were capable of falling in love in spite of your so called condition. You took a drastic step of entering into marital union as human beings do at certain stages of their lives. You have aspirations and dreams about your future family life. All these aspirations and dreams are part of being human. In other words you are a testimony to the fact that where there is love there is a way. You are a sign of hope to those who feel that society has condemned them to lead the remaining years of their lives in misery.
Marital union is the only sacrament where recipients are also dispensers there of, and this involves denial of oneself in order to fulfil the needs of the other. As volunteers you know the value of support and I am certain that you will be able provide it to each other.
I have no doubt that you have learnt many lessons since becoming HIV positive and in your work as volunteers. I want to repeat so of them to reaffirm them to you and for the benefit of those who have come to give you support.
Firstly it is important for all of us to know our status. It is takes only 20 minutes to know your status if you approach public hospitals and clinics for free voluntary testing and counselling. Once you know that you are HIV negative then make sure that you remain so by adhering to our ABC prevention message. Abstain from sex as long as possible preferably until you get married. If you cannot try to be faithful and if you fail on these two methods then please use a Condom.
Secondly if you test positive accept your condition. The couple that is getting married here today did it and with counselling and support it is possible for everyone.
Thirdly learn as much as possible about the condition. If you do that you will know that it is possible to successfully treat every disease that may attack you even if you are HIV positive. TB can be cure even in HIV positive people.
Fourthly lead a healthy lifestyle. Eat good food, avoid stress, practice safe sex, give up alcohol and tobacco and seek medical attention as soon as you suspect that you are not well.
Fifthly build strong social support around yourself and plan the future with your family. This wedding become possible because of the support of a friend, therefore it is possible to keep the friendships and relations you have. If you feel you want to have children, think carefully and consult a counsellor who may be able to assist you with that decision.
I wish you a happy married life and hope that this marriage will sustain you as you do your work in your community caring for those who need you support. May you always remember Cecilia and Kaya FM listeners. To the KGB show and Kaya FM, you are indeed the Heart and Soul of Jozi and as the Gauteng Health Department we will always be ready to partner with you in other initiatives to improve the health of the people of Jozi.
Thank you.
For more information contact Simon Zwane on 082 551 9892
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government
1 August 2003
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