The HIV/Aids Unit coordinates and oversees HIV/Aids programmes for the campus community as well as the nearby local community. Its mission is to have well-informed students and staff on HIV/Aids-related issues to ensure that they stay healthy and engage in behaviour that helps to curb HIV infection.

Services for students and staff:

Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is offered by a professional nurse on appointment two days a week.

Many awareness campaigns are conducted, such as evening information sessions where students discuss challenges that make them vulnerable to HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancy. The Condom Bash targets students at the beginning of the year and highlights the significance of using protection during sex. We conduct VCT awareness campaigns on a quarterly basis to reach out to the larger community.

Specific HIV/Aids and other STI events are also celebrated according to the Department of Health’s calendar. We take the lead to organise events such as World Aids Day, Candlelight Memorial, and Condom Week.

Counselling services on a one-on-one basis is available to students and staff on request. Support groups are established to support people infected or affected by HIV/Aids on an ongoing basis.

Lunch-hour debates/dialogues are mainly aimed at staff members, where stimulating and empowering topics are discussed.

Workshops/training: Short courses on topics such as ARVs, PMTCT, STIs, and basic HIV/Aids are conducted and information on HIV/Aids is spread through talk shows, posters, pamphlets, dramas, and poetry.

In the Peer education programmes a team of student educators distribute information to their peers.

Services to the community: The HIV/Aids unit and student-peer educators visit selected schools in Qwaqwa to equip Grade 11 and 12 learners with important life skills. The topics deal with the youth and HIV/Aids, transition from high school to university life, life choices, decision-making, and the ABC approach.

Partnerships: We collaborate with national and international organisations and stakeholders on HIV/Aids-related issues. Among them are the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Local Government, the Department of Home Affairs, SASS, SANAC, the Boitelo Youth Network, USAID, AED, Hope Africa, SANCA, and DramAidE.

Contact details

HIV/Aids Unit Coordinator