Page 10 - KZN BUSINESS SENSE Vol3 No3

EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH

Lynda Laird, Partner TB develops when the TB drug Community Care Givers and plans do not cure you of AIDS
at Laird Leisegang − regimen (treatment) is improperly iThembu Lethu, teams were formed but only help to keep the infection
appointed financial
manager for administered, or when people with at various sites in Cato Crest and under control and help your
THINK TB stop their treatment before the headed out into the community. immune system to stay strong,
disease has been fully eradicated This free service greatly increased to fight against other infections.
t seems from their body. the community’s awareness of There are many factors associated
only fitting Research has been shown that the TB. The day proved to be a big with poor adherence; inadequate
Ithat I share impact of TB is disproportionately success with the community who home support, inability to take
this article felt by the poor. According to the were encouraged by the support time off work to go to the clinics,
shortly South African Early Childhood offered by all those involved. non-disclosure of HIV status, are
after Review 2016, 63% of young South The event was covered by the to name a few. The adherence clubs
Africa African children live in poverty. One local broadcast station, SABC. aim to motivate, encourage and help
Day (May million children are infected with https://youtube/C5GRCPYiDOg. participants stick to their treatment
25). As TB each year around the world. In The campaign is one of my plan by creating a network of
put forth most cases, these children do not highlights to date and I will support and continuous education.
by the have access to proper treatment. always remember it as bitter sweet. Is it not vital then that HIV/AIDS
South African Government, “Africa This was my first encounter and and TB Education and Training
Day presents an opportunity for How do we empower our realisation of how little people are be a priority? Training will create
South Africans to reconnect and youth if we are unable to protect aware of the TB epidemic and what awareness of HIV and TB, promote
recommit themselves in support them? How do we raise them in support is out there. safer sex and encourage people to Siyabonga Nzimande
of all governmen Africa and a a safe and healthy environment THINK also initiated a school test for HIV and to get counselling.
better world.” This year’s Africa if we do not have access to the speech competition with six
Day celebration theme focused on information needed to do so? Is it participating secondary schools, In order to promote an a network of support and change
empowering youth. not our responsibility or at least the whereby students were encouraged understanding of workers’ rights; thus enabling the youth to take
responsibility of those that have the including health care, testing and control of external factors that shape
Empowering our youth. What does means to do so? to prepare a twenty-minute speech conditions of employment we their lives. Let’s give our youth the
that mean? on TB infection and prevention; TB should be equipping workplaces psychological tools to assist them in
Only by educating people are we treatment and treatment impact;
We have all heard the saying, “the able to make them aware of the and TB clinical research and the with a basic knowledge of HIV and knowing how to address problems
youth are the future of tomorrow”, extent of infection in our country. benefit thereof. TB, and prevention skills. Employers that can harm their quality of life.
but do we pause to take stock in I would like to say that we all know need to encourage and promote Let’s educate. Let’s support. In the
THINK’s most recent project is a
those words? what the TB and HIV/AIDS virus collaboration with another South maximal health awareness in the spirit of Africa Day - Let’s reconnect
workplace.
South Africa's population is largely is, but do we really know what the African NPO to manage The Global and recommit.
made up of young people; those extent of this epidemic is? Do we Fund grant for the implementation Siyabonga Nzimande (Director at
who are below the age of 35 years know what the side effects of the of programmes addressing the HIV/ THINK and Advocate for TB and Let’s empower
constitute about 66% of the total treatment are; the burden placed on AIDS and TB epidemic. The focus HIV vaccine research) once said ourselves in the hope
population. With over 54 million family members; the discrimination is primarily in Umlazi, Umhkomazi something that resonated with me, to empower our youth.
South Africans, 18.5% are between that is so often associated with this and Umbumbulu (eThekwini “I believe that change starts with
the ages 10-19; and 24% are aged epidemic? metropolitan in KwaZulu-Natal). one person at a time, that people do
15-24 (StatSA, Mid-year population In 2015 I participated in an not change as a result of receiving Please contact THINK if you
estimate). In the age group 15-24, outreach programme that was The main objective of this information only but when they see would like to participate in
81% of South Africans have been initiated by THINK. It involved a collaboration is to provide those around them change.” our Wellness Peer Education
tested for HIV and AIDS, however door to door campaign providing counselling and support. Adherence So, let’s change. Let’s change the Programme. It starts with us.
there is still a staggering 31% in total free screening for TB and HIV clubs are being established for stigma and discrimination that are Educating ourselves is the only way
of South Africans that have never testing. Together with the Cato patients that have been on treatment so often associated with the TB and we can ever hope to educate our
been tested. Manor Clinic, the THINK staff, for at least 12 months. Treatment HIV/AIDS epidemic. Let’s create future. 

We are now 36 years
into the epidemic.

I was excited when the
opportunity presented itself for
me to join the team at THINK
(Tuberculosis and HIV Investigative
Network). As my primary focus
is on the financial side of the
organisation, there were times when
I felt a bit removed from the cause.
Having worked with THINK over
the past two years, I have come to
realise that every effort in this fight,
whether it be in the field or in the
office, makes a difference. We all
need to do our part to assist with the
TB and HIV/AIDS epidemic.
THINK is a globally recognised
not-for-profit organisation. We are
focused upon conducting clinical
research to alleviate suffering
arising from Tuberculosis (TB)
and HIV infection. THINK is
based in KwaZulu-Natal which is a
hotspot of the HIV epidemic, with
an estimated 1.2 million infected
individuals. It also suffers from a
very high burden of drug resistant
TB, and was the scene for the ‘XDR
TB outbreak’ in 2005. This lead
to the uncovering of Extensively
Drug Resistant (XDR) TB.To put
that in plain English, drug-resistant

10