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STUDENTS VOW TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON THEIR FUTURE

STUDENTS VOW TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON THEIR FUTURE

DUT students, together with the University’s Student Counselling Department and the HIV/AIDS Centre, yesterday (Wednesday, 18 May 2016) vowed to fight new HIV/AIDS or sexual infections during the celebration of the 33rd Annual international Candlelight Memorial 2016.

The event was held at the University’s food court area, Steve Biko Campus. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is celebrated annually during the third Sunday of May. This memorial is held to honour of those who are living and affected by the global health epidemic.

With the international theme being “Engage, Educate, Empower”, DUT saw a need to add onto the celebrations by encouraging students to ‘light the candle into their future’.

Today we encourage everyone to play it safe and keep the light shining upon their future”, said DUT Health Promoter, Melusi Dlamini. “We need to live our lives with a better understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In this day and age, we cannot have people scared to disclose their HIV statuses and we cannot allow for more infections,” said Dlamini.

Student Counselling and Health Director (Durban campuses), Naseem Haniff, reminded those at the event that she and her Department were there to support the DUT community in fighting and supporting those affected by HIV/AIDS. “Although we are saying ‘why become HIV positive when you can stay negative’, we will not sit around and assume or watch our community suffer. We will engage, educate and empower each other. The future is ours and more importantly, yours as students. It is right there unfolding in front of you. Don’t allow anything, even HIV, to stop you from being the best,” she said.

Sithokozile Gcabashe, former DUT student who has been living positively since 2004, was also at the event. Gcabashe was diagnosed with the virus when she was in grade 11 while pregnant and has been tackling stigma of living with HIV since then. Also present at the event were DUT peer educators.
The event also allowed those in attendance to get tested for HIV.

– Noxolo Memela

Pictured: DUT students, guests as well as staff from the University’s HIV/AIDS Centre and the Student Counselling and Heath Department light candles during the 33rd Annual international Candlelight Memorial 2016.

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