KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Mrs Belinda Scott, made an impassioned plea to the youth of uMshwathi Municipality to stop the spread of HIV in this area.

MEC Scott advised young people to abstain from sexual activities and stick to their education so that they can improve their lives.

Scott was in Trustfeed, Thokozani and Cool Air areas in this municipality to preach HIV and AIDS awareness in preparation for the upcoming 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban on 18-22 June 2016. She is in a district-wide campaign to mobilise people against new HIV infections.

Scott shocked people at the community hall in Trustfeed when she said the prevalence of the virus in women was at 39.5% (one in every three women) in the municipality. Of that, women make up 35%. Amongst men that have tested, 21% have HIV (one in every five men has HIV).

"One of the biggest causes of the spread of HIV and AIDS in this area is the activity of our young people. As parents and leaders in the community we must be very strict with our young people. Children must not become sexually active.

"We can't turn our backs and close our eyes to HIV and AIDS. It is part of our community. It is one of the challenges that we have to face together," she concluded.

UMshwathi Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sphindile Zondi-Mbhele, accepted the challenge from Scott, saying there should be no new HIV infections.

She said the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the area is scary. "We have got to change our behaviour pattern and talk about HIV and AIDS openly in this area. We need to say 'NO' to unprotected sex. If you are at school, 'NO' to sex. 'NO' to sugar daddies. 'NO' to sugar mommies," said Councillor Zondi.

Earlier in the day Scott donated cooking pots, gas stove, gas cylinder, nutritious food, stationery, plates and cups to Sisonke Programme at Thokozani area in this municipality. Sisonke feeds children from needy families. She also extended the same gesture to Khanyo's Child Minder crèche at Trustfeed. She also engaged on a door-to-door campaign at Cool Air area mobilising people to brace themselves for the fight to combat HIV and AIDS.

 

Issued by KwaZulu-Natal Finance