24 May 2010 | |||
19 May marked the 27th Anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day and this year's message was "Many Lights for Human Rights". To commemorate the many lives lost to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, globally, DUT held a candle lighting ceremony at Mansfield Hall, Ritson campus. The event was co-ordinated by DUT's HIV/AIDS Centre and aimed to educate and create greater awareness amongst the university community. The centre distributed educational pamphlets on the services they provide together with condoms and information on contraception and current barrier methods available. Students and staff were also encouraged to undergo Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). The ceremony was opened with a prayer from Lihlohonolo Makhohlouloane, DUT's Safety, Health and Environmental Officer. David Sedumedi, Programme Director, said the idea to commemorate the lives lost to HIV/AIDS came from Bobbi Campbell, Bobby Reynolds, Dan Turner and Mark Feldman, in 1983. "The Candlelight Memorial began in 1983 during a time of confusion and misconception about a mysterious disease sweeping the global population. These gentlemen started by lighting candles and since then it has been celebrated annually by the global community," said Sedumedi. "The Candlelight Memorial Day is more than a ceremony; it is an opportunity to reflect on what we have done in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Globally there are close to 33 million people that are living with HIV. DUT's HIV/AIDS Centre is commended for its commitment to empowering and educating students about HIV/AIDS to prevent further spread of the virus. The centre's application to begin roll out of Anti-Retro Virals (ARVs) to students was recently approved, previously students were referred to other centres for ARVs however, they will now be available at the university ", said Amar Singh, Dean of Students. Representing the MEC for Health, Nonhlanhla Makhanya, Head of Ministry at the KZN Department Health said society needs to work together to fight the spread of the disease and empower each other to know their HIV status. She said: "We need stop and prevent further discrimination of people living with HIV. Together we are the solution." The ceremony ended with a poetry recital by Thobeka Dodo and an entertaining performance by DUT's Drama Society. Pictured: From left are Ms Nonhlanhla, Head of Ministry in KZN Department of Health; Mrs Naseem Haniff, Acting Director of Student Counselling; Mrs Thobile Zulu, HIV/AIDS Centre Manager and Mr Amar Singh, Dean of Students at. - Dumile Mbatha | |||