Young people from Ward 97 in Town Two, Khayelitsha, gathered at the Blue Hall in the area on Friday 13 February to take part in a health awareness campaign conducted by the Soul City Institute in partnership with the local ward councillor. The aim of the campaign was to educate the youth about contagious diseases.
Soul City is an intersectoral organisation that promotes healthy lifestyles and strives to ensure equality and equity for all. Some of the services provided during the campaign included Pap smears, tuberculosis (TB) testing, HIV/AIDS testing, and blood pressure screening. Young people were also educated on how to use condoms correctly.
Safe sex education and STI awareness
Soul City social mobiliser Yolanda Gigi said the campaign formed part of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Condom Week, which promotes safe sex practices and encourages regular and consistent condom use to prevent HIV and other infections. The initiative also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding STIs. She said the campaign ran from Saturday 7 to Saturday 14 February.
“The programme was strictly for the youth. We are targeting young people between the ages of 18 and 35. We are here to educate them about STIs and promote safe sex,” said Gigi.
Gigi urged young people to avoid having multiple sexual partners.
Ward 97 youth encouraged to take responsibility
Ward councillor Mthwalo Mkutswana described the event as informative and valuable. He advised young people to avoid promiscuity and to visit health centres regularly for check-ups.
“As much as the programme is educational, it is also entertaining. The programme addresses some of the challenges our youth face, such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment, school dropout and crime. We always encourage young people to focus on their studies,” said Mkutswana. He added that education is the key to a better future.
Youth welcome the initiative
One of the attendees, 21-year-old Lona Nombekula, also spoke about the educational value of the programme, saying she had learned a great deal about the importance of young people taking care of themselves.
“We are encouraged to use condoms every time we have sexual intercourse. We are also encouraged to visit clinics regularly to test for contagious diseases,” she said. She urged other organisations to follow Soul City’s example by bringing services directly to the community.
Nombekula also encouraged young people to attend such events, saying they are helpful and empowering.
