Nursing students from the University of Pretoria, together with taxi drivers and members of the community, took part in a march near the Kopanong Shopping Centre, which drew the attention of many community members in and around Hammanskraal.

The campaign concentrated not only on the taxi drivers, but also on the general community, and all could take up the offer of free testing for chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Various stalls for different health services, which included HIV testing, were erected. The Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) was roped in to do counselling and HIV testing.

According to Dr Nkhensani Ngunyulu, chairperson of the HIV/Aids and Malnutrition,  Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Pretoria, HIV/Aids is one of the five diseases that contribute to the high mortality rate in the country. She said that they targeted the taxi rank because they wanted to specifically educate taxi drivers about their general well-being and nutrition as they are usually on the road and often neglect their health. “Our main aim is health promotion and disease prevention. Therefore, our coming here today is to bring life by educating the taxi drivers and the community at large so that they can make well-informed decisions regarding their health. Knowing their HIV status is the best thing they can do for themselves so as to prolong their lives”, said Dr Ngunyulu.

Dr Pinkie Mohlala from the Wellness Clinic at the Jubilee Hospital in Hammanskraal highlighted one of the main purposes of the campaign, which was to put an end to new HIV infections of new-born babies and also of adults. She said that the spread of HIV infections could be reduced and eventually contained as had been the case with polio many years ago. “With these kinds of interventions towards the community regarding HIV/Aids, a battle is half-way won to containing the spread of HIV infections. The impact we are making is quite substantial and it will eventually be like the efforts that were made to bring an end to polio. We are determined to reduce new infections and deaths related to HIV diseases”, she said.


 

 Members of the community heeded the call for HIV testing.


Staff and students of department of nursing take to the streets of Hammanskraal


 Student and staff from Department of Nursing Science.