ABERDEEN NEWS — Last Friday the staff of the Masakhane Clinic in Lotusville held a very successful awareness day about sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, for local school children and members of the community.
This day was the culmination of build-up programmes launched at the different schools.
The target group was boys and girls in grades seven and eight, and pupils from all four local schools were invited. Various youth groups within the community were also asked to send representatives along.
The theme for the event was “Building the legends for tomorrow, today”, with speakers from the community and the clinic staff. Dr Fumani Desemele from Aberdeen Hospital spoke first, and he was supported by Sister Mary Jane McPherson, clinic supervisor from the sub-district office in Graaff-Reinet, and Sister Erica Edwards of Mashakane.
The speakers spoke in some depth about STIs and how they are contracted. Treatment regimens were explained, as well as possible complications from circumcision. Different methods of family planning were discussed, and the consequences of unprotected sex as well as teenage pregnancies.
After the discussion, counselling and testing sessions for STIs and HIV took place, as well as screening for TB. The children were given fruit and sweets, donated by some of the local shops.
The event was organised by health educators Gladys May and Maureen Venter, who would like to thank the sponsors, speakers, and all who attended.
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