Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands Family Fun Day
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands (EKN) held a fun day for its workers and their families at Cresta Lodge on 5 January 2012. SAfAIDS provided logistical support to the event combined for both the adults and children. The master of ceremony was the famous Hazvinei Sakarombe (DJ Chillie) who led the event right through to end of day. Mrs Barbara Joziasse the Dutch Ambassador to Zimbabwe graced the occasion as guest of honour.
Fifteen children and 76 adults attended the event which saw both children and adults enjoy drama, music and dance by Hunters drama club of Chitungwiza. Soccer was played between adults and youngsters and the result was a one all draw.
The Ambassador explained that the workplace programme was meant to help workers to attain and maintain good health and prevent HIV and AIDS. She explained that all workers who were tested and found positive were entitled to full medical assistance including all medication required and any other bills that may be incurred. Newlands Clinic provided the clinical care; SAfAIDS provided the prevention component while Northern Medical AID Society ensured the workers and their families received medical aid.
Population Services International (PSI) a partner of SAfAIDS made a presentation stressing the importance of knowing one`s status as no one should die of HIV and AIDS. If people are tested and diagnosed early, their life expectancy can be just as long as someone who is HIV negative. For the youth the major prevention method was abstinence while for adults it was faithfulness with one uninfected partner and use of condoms. PSI conducted HIV counselling to 43 people, of which 41 were tested as people responded to the call for testing. This included the hotel staff.
Dr Chimbetete of Newlands Clinic gave an overview of HIV basic facts stressing that HIV was no longer as scary as it was in the past. Emphasis should now focus on preventing new infections and avoiding deaths due to HIV. He mentioned the existence of discordant partners which can be explained in various ways; at times one of the partners does not get the virus because the frequency of having sex is low, the viral load may be low, one may not have the receptors on which the virus attaches and if the other partner gets treated early he or she may not be infectious. Counselling helps to make discordant partners understand their situation. Dr Chimbetete also alerted people on diseases of lifestyle, that are non-communicable, such as diabetes mellitus, heart diseases and hypertension and cancer. Symptoms of diabetes mellitus mentioned were, loss of weight, thirst and backaches. High blood pressure was said to have no symptoms, usually one just has a sudden attack that shows through a stroke. People were urged to be screened for these diseases, maintain good weight and exercise the body regularly.
HIV testimonies were given by two people, a young man and a lady. The young man was born with the virus, but he only got to know about it when he was about thirteen years after both his parents had died and he was taken ill for some time. The young man who looks quite healthy has managed to be where he is today through support groups and positive living. The lady who is a teacher discovered her status when she was thirty two years old. Her husband who was also HIV positive died after he stopped taking ARVs. The lady has been empowered by support groups and reading widely from newspapers and the internet.
Dialogues for adults and for young people were conducted with SAfAIDS staff facilitating. This enabled participants to ask questions and get clarification from the experts who were present.
The event was a success as people really had fun and learnt at the same time.
