Clinic aims for zero Aids infection rate
ALEXANDRA - Alex Clinic CEO Labane Maluleke has urged men to debunk the myth of 'strong man' mentality and get tested for the dreaded HIV/Aids disease.
ALEX Clinic CEO Labane Maluleke urged men to lose the ‘strong-man’ mentality and get tested for the dreaded HIV/Aids disease.
He was addressing a gathering to commemorate World Aids Day at the clinic, which was attended by community members – with the conspicuous absence of men and boys but many women and girls gathering.
Maluleke started off his address by wondering where the men were. “I would like to urge men to debunk this myth that they are strong and only sissies go to the clinics for a check-up,” he said.
“I know men often send their spouses for checks, and when they return negative the men then turn around and say there is no need for them to go for a check as the spouse has tested negative.
“Some even go [so far] that if the spouse comes back positive from a test, [the men then] claim they are not positive and that it’s only the spouse that tested positive.”
Maluleke dismissed the notion and said the woman may have tested negative but her male counterpart could be positive.
“I therefore urge men and boys to come forward and get tested too so that we can reach our desired target of zero infections.”
Sister Nozipho Maseko from the clinic’s prevention of mother-to-child transmissions (PMTCT) section urged mainly positive members of the community and families to start planning for children and consult the PMTCT staff who will gladly help them with the process.
“This section is currently doing well with a three percentage of transmission rate, but that is still not enough, as we also aim for a zero transmission rate,” she said.
“Those wanting babies must plan for their pregnancy and get tested early so that we can take them through the treatment stages to avoid these mother-to-child transmissions,” Maseko said.
