Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
YOUNG people in Bulilima District are taking on critical roles in the fight against HIV and Aids, increasingly becoming mentors and educators to both their peers and the elderly.
One such youth is Ms Nonhlanhla Bhebhe (28) of Matjinge Village, a Community ART Refill Group (Carg) leader who supports five groups with a total of 50 members. Trained under a model that promotes adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), Ms Bhebhe ensures that people living with HIV remain committed to their treatment.
Under the programme, Carg leaders assist clients in managing their medication, collect ART on their behalf and distribute it within the community. They also disseminate information on HIV and Aids, conduct HIV testing and distribute condoms.
Ms Bhebhe, who tested HIV positive 10 years ago, said accepting her status was the first step towards helping others.
“The role of being a Carg leader requires one to first come to terms with their HIV status. When I discovered that I was HIV positive, it shattered me and I didn’t want to take treatment. Eventually, I accepted my status and became determined to make a positive impact in the lives of others, both young and old,” she said.
Ms Bhebhe said she now uses various platforms, including community meetings, to educate people on HIV prevention and treatment.
“Being HIV positive as a youth is not the end of the world. I want young people to know that those who are negative must remain negative, and those who are positive can live responsibly and confidently,” she said.
“Working with older community members has been challenging,” Ms Bhebhe added, but she has earned their trust over time.
Another young leader, Ms Sanelisiwe Nyathi (29) from Masendu Village, mentors 50 adolescent girls and young women under the Sista2Sista programme. The initiative provides a safe space for girls to discuss challenges, learn about sexual and reproductive health, and build skills in financial literacy and decision-making.
Ms Nyathi holds weekly sessions with girls aged 15 to 24 who are not attending school.
“As a mentor, my role is to guide these girls through topics that equip them to make informed decisions that protect them from HIV and other risks. The programme seeks to empower them socially, emotionally and economically,” she said.
Bulilima District Aids Coordinator, Mr Ronald Hanyane, said involving youths in HIV programming is essential, as they are among the most affected demographic.
Bulilima has an HIV prevalence rate of 17,6 percent, with the incidence rate for ages 15 to 49 at 0,26 percent. The district continues to record higher numbers of new HIV infections and STI cases among young people aged 15 to 24.
Teenagers between 15 and 19 years also accounted for the highest number of ANC bookings — 400 out of 1 207 — between January and August this year.
“The statistics show that adolescent girls and young women face the highest risk of HIV infection. That is why it’s important to involve youths, whether by designing programmes that target them or empowering them to lead such initiatives,” he said.
Mr Hanyane added that young people relate better when programmes are facilitated by someone their age. — @DubeMatutu
