Our World Aids Day Hero

As World Aids Day rolls around again, I wonder how far we have come as a country in the fight against HIV/AIDS? The stigma is still there and young girls are more worried about falling pregnant then they are about contracting HIV. Wives in rural communities still don’t question their husbands about whether or not they have been faithful while living and working away from home and retroviral medication funding is slowly running out. South Africa has the largest HIV burden of any country in the world, with an estimated 5.5 million people living with the virus. And women and children remain at the centre of the pandemic in terms of transmission, vulnerability and potential for impact.

That’s why, on World Aids Day, we want to recognise the incredible work that South to South have been doing in our little community and it’s surrounding areas. Their paediatricians and doctors have been coming to the local clinics and hospitals to integrate and strengthen Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), paediatric HIV and adherence and psychosocial (APS) programs. It really is making a huge difference and helping mothers in the area look after themselves and their infants.

Our ladies try and get to the clinic with their babies if they need to when they know the South to South staff are in the area – once or twice a month. They’ve implemented other systems in the clinics too where more people are being tested to know their status – and it is encouraged by the staff to do so when being submitted.

The South to South Program for Comprehensive Family HIV Care and Treatment (S2S) aims to address these gaps in support of quality HIV care and treatment services. So thank you South to South for making such a positive difference to our community – we truly salute you! Your dedication to combating HIV in this country and your love and care do not go unnoticed.

We get excited when we know you are in the area and love it when you pop in to have a cup of tea with Martha and chat to the ladies – thank you for working with us to create a positive environment to talk about HIV/AIDS. We love you more than words could explain. Go in Kagiso (peace) and katlego (joy) always.

Ps. See you soon x