In celebration of International Women’s Day, DUT’s Isolempilo Campus Health Clinic, Steve Biko Campus, hosted female staff and students in remembrance of the struggles endured by women.
The purpose of the event was to educate women about their rights, gender equality, gender based violence and health.
DUT Centre Student Counselling and Health Director, Naseem Haniff, reminded guests about the important role played by women in history both locally and internationally.
“The International Women’s Day arose from the suffrage movement in 1872 in England where women were excluded in a lot of meaningful social decision making like voting,” Haniff said. “In defiance to this, many women held protests, marches where some were jailed and others died. The 8th of March is recognised as a public holiday in many parts of the world, which shows we have come a long way since then,” she said.
Haniff encouraged women to never forget their rights. “If you do not use your rights correctly, all the rights movements become useless,” she said.
The day’s programme was also dedicated to Pap smear screening. Other screenings included blood pressure, body mass index, blood sugar, TB and breast examination.
Among the women were a few young men who were applauded for their presence and admired for their interest on women’s issues.
Campus HIV/AIDS Councillor, Zola Shezi, debunked many myths about condoms and their usage. She encouraged the women to carry their own condoms instead of always relying on their male partners to be the ones responsible. “Some women don’t like carrying condoms because there is always a perception that you are always ready (to have sex), but that’s not true. It is for your own safety,” she said.
Shezi also encouraged the women to be cautious of things like the expiry dates and broken condoms, promoting the use of female condoms as a safer alternative. She also demonstrated their insertion.
DUT second-year Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics student, Ntobiso Gama, as well as DUT staff member, Nondumiso Manyathi, who had both came in to do their Pap smear screenings said they found it important to do so to avoid the late possible detection of cervical cancer.
The Isolempilo Campus Health Clinic is staffed by professional nurses and doctors whose primary purpose is to assist students medically in a professional and confidential manner.
– Thobele Nzama
Pictured: DUT campus clinic nurse, Zola Shezi, giving a female condom insertion demonstration.
