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Siyayinqoba Beat It! Episode 25 -
Teachers and HIV
The 2004 HIV prevalence rate amongst teachers was 12.7 percent, which roughly equates to 45 000 educators out of a group of about 356 000. HIV is clearly a huge problem amongst teachers. We speak to HIV positive teachers about there lives and we look at how the Tshepanga Trust helps to provide access to treatment. We were also joined by members of the HSRC and the Department of Education to discuss problems and solutions involving teachers and HIV.
Shalom Ncala: Sanibonani siyani amukela iqenjeni leSiyayinqoba Beat It! igama lami ngingu Shalom Ncala. Eqenjeni loSiyayinqoba Beat It! sonke siphila kahle neHIV. Sanibonani nonke. Ninjani kodwa nahlanje. [Hello and welcome to the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group. My name is Shalom Ncala. In the Beat It! support group, we are all living positively with HIV.] Hello everybody. How are you? Welcome to today’s show. Each week we get together to talk about issues that affect our lives from disclosure to different classes of Anti-retrovirals. uSiyayinqoba wuhlelo lwakho lokuphila kancono ne HIV. Usiyayinqoba ngu hlelo lwakho lokhu phila kancono nge HIV.Uma uphila 
negciwane ke HIV, noma unomlingani, ilunga lomdeni noma umngani ophila negciwane leHIVi siyayinqoba he yakho. Ngo 2004 udoctor Olive Shisana unguxondisi wehlelo wecwaningo weHIV/AIDS kanye nephilo kuzwelokhe eHRSC wakhipha ucwaningo elukhulu kwakulu wayeziwa ngomthelwelwa wo HIV kotitsha emNingizimu Africa. Umbiko wathola ukuthi ngotisha abawu 4000 bashona ngo 2004. Amapercent angu 80 abalaba bashona bebangaphansi kha 45 ubudala. Lesi yisiboniso esikhulu sokuthi lokhu kufa kuhlobane ne HIV/AIDS. Uncwaningo lathola futhi isilenganiso sokuba khona seHIV esinga mapercent 12.7 ngaphakhathi khotisha. Okungezeka kulinganise notisha abayi 45 000 kulabo abakhona abangu 356 000. iHIV iyikhinga eqaqile ngaphakathi kotisha. Lolundaba kumele lubhekane nolo ukuzu singalahlekelwa habotisha abonolwazi ngenxa ye AIDS. Masizweni ukuthi yini eningakhusho ngabotisha ne HIV. {IsiZulu} [Siyayinqoba is your guide to better living with HIV. If you are living with HIV or you have a partner, a family member or a friend living with HIV, Siyayinqoba is for you! In 2004 Dr Olive Shisana, Director of the HSRC’s National Programme on HIV/AIDS and health, released the largest study ever conducted on the impact of HIV/AIDS on South African educators. The report found that 4000 teachers died in 2004. 80 percent of those who died were under 45 years of age. This is a strong indication that these deaths were AIDS related. The study also found an HIV prevalence rate of 12.7 percent amongst teachers, which roughly equates to 45 000 educators out of a population about 356 000. HIV is clearly a huge problem amongst teachers. This needs to be addressed so that we don’t lose any more teachers to AIDS. Let’s hear what you have to say about teachers and HIV.
Question: If your teacher is living with HIV it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can learn from them. If you’re serious about your studies, you should listen to your teacher, regardless of what they have because everybody can get HIV?
Shalom Ncala: Si amukela isivakashi sethu unkosazana Nomvuzo Vilo ovela eThekwini ongutisha ophila neHIV. Kunjani ma? Nmahlanje siyaphila sisi, siyajabula ukuba nawe?Ukuze sithole ubazi olwe ngeziwe igembu le Beat It! liyela vakashela uMnumzana Malevu utisha ophila ne HIV eNquthu esigodini sasemakhaya eNatal enyakatho.{isiZulu} [We welcome our guest, Ms Nomvuzo Vilo, a teacher living with HIV from Durban. How are you? Thanks for joining us today. To find out more, the Beat It! team went to visit Mr Malevu, a teacher living with HIV in Nguthu, a rural village in Northern Natal.]
HIV and AIDS in the classroom.
Sibusiso Malevu: Ukusebenza njengo tisha ngiqale 1996.Ukuthola kwami ukuthi nginegciwane ngithole ngaye u1996, njengoba singishilo ukuthi ngiqale ukusebenza ngo 1996. Since 1996 sengishitshe izikolo izikolo kaningana and isinqumo sami la engifika khona utisha omukhulu no tisha ngimutshele ngesi status sami. So, izinto ezabangela ukuthi ngize ngidedide ukuthi ngikhulume emphakathini ingenxa yokhu discriminetwa, okukhe kube khona emsebenzini la ngisebenza khona,yiku discriminatwa okuye kubekhona emabandleni esikhonza kuwo. Ngisho nesem’phakathini la uye uthole khona amalunga wom’phakathi ekhuluma nje, just like nomakanjani lezo zinto khimi kwafika ukuthi angeke zikwazi ukulungisa ngomunye umuntu ongeko HIV positive. Ngaphandle if mina angiphila ngaphantsi kwaswo esisimo ngithi go through for it. Abanye basebenza baphila nani negciwane, abanye basebenza bafundisa abatwana abaphila nani negciwane, abanye othisha basebenza no tisha abaphila negciwane.{IsiZulu} [I started working as a teacher in 1996. The first time I found out that I’m living with HIV was in 1996. As I’ve said that I started working in 1996, so since 1996 I’ve changed schools a number of times, and I’ve decided that wherever I go, I’ll tell the principal and other teachers about my status. One of the reasons I decided to disclose to the community is the discrimination that occurs in the workplace and in our churches. Even in society, you find people talking carelessly about HIV. These things cannot be corrected by someone who is not HIV positive. It is my duty, as a person living with HIV, to play my part. Some teachers work while they are living with HIV, some teachers teach children living with HIV and some teachers work with teachers living with HIV.] If you talk about HIV, what does it mean?
Young girl: Human
Young boy: Immunodeficiency
Young girl: Virus
Sibusiso Malevu: Waye supportive nje, ngayoyonke into ne dlela. Ukufundiswa nokhu fundisa HIV and AIDS ezikolweni kungakaqaliswa kepha azange bangikhiphele eceleni. So, by so doing yiyona idlela bakakhobisa ukuzwelana nokhubambisana nami esimeni engiphila khuso nanesigumo bengisithathile ukuthi vele I’m prepared ukuthi ngisebenzele abanye abantu.{IsiZulu} [My ex-principal was very positive. He was supportive in every way. Education around HIV/AIDS had not started in schools, but I never felt like I was put on the sidelines. By so doing, they were supportive under the circumstances. I found myself prepared to provide this service for other people.]
Support group
Shalom Ncala: Sisi Novuzo Into engingayisho ngale insert esiqenda ukuyibona it is a very good model yesikolo, esiphumeleni khobala, when it comes to ukufundisa izingane ngeHIV nokhuti futhi kumnandi folatisha ukuthi abe ke environment akuyo. Mara ngicela ukuthi ngazi from wena ukuthi I experience yakho iyini ngale subject esikhuluma ngayo namhlanje? {IsiZulu} [One thing I can say about that insert is that it is a good model of a school that has done well in teaching children about HIV. You can see that the teacher is happy to be in that environment, but what have been your experiences regarding today’s subject of discussion?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: I discovered I was HIV positive in 1998 December and then I decided to come out immediately when I heard I was HIV positive. I never came out to my principal immediately, Ndaye ndaqonda ukuthi mandihlale ixesha nyana nje, ndaphinda ndayomuxelela uprincipala wami. Emvakhoko ndiye nda decida ukuba mandixelele abantu bonke ekhuhlaleni that I’m HIV positive. Abantu baba ne shock, but abanzange babonise bad attitude aphakume. Baba right nje akwaba into ewrongo. Into eyenzakhayo emvakhokho ndaye ndatshintsha ndaya eKZN last year, nda decida ukuba mandixelele uprincipala wami wase KZN that I’m HIV positive. Wabane shock kakhulu yena ke, bekayika ukuba ndinga xeleli istaff wathi hayi, ungabaxelele abantu ba apha isikolweni, what if baxelela abantu belali bafike apha isikolweni bakhubethe? Nda decidea ukuba mandithule ke, but kulonyaka ndiye ndazi xelela ukuba no I want keep quiet at all, funeka ndixelele abantu ba apha esikolweni. Before kuvalwa izikolo ngo June ndiye ndaba biza itshinthala basesikolweni bonke ndafika ndabaxelele ukuba I’m HIV positive. Babaneshock kakhulu abatshitshela base KZN kangake umunye wakhala engakwazi ukuba azibambe nenxa ukuba bendithetha lento. But nangoku ayikho into abayibonisayo enegative, like mna ndizithatha ukuba I’m still that person ndinguye ngaphambili. {IsiXhosa} [I waited for a while then I told him. Then I decided to tell the community that I’m HIV positive. People were shocked, but they never showed bad attitude towards me. Everything was just fine then I moved to KwaZulu-Natal. I decided to also tell my principal in KZN about my HIV status. He was shocked and scared, so much that he didn’t want me to tell the other teachers. What if they tell people from the village and they come here and beat you? So I decided to keep quiet. This year, I told myself that I won’t keep quite at all; I have to tell the other teacher. Just before the June holidays, I called all the teachers and I told them that I’m living with HIV. They were all shocked one of them even cried, but they haven’t given me any negative attitude. I also take myself as the same person I was before.]
Lihle Dlamini: Nakhu insert, insert sibonile uthisha Malevu wahambe ikolo eziningi, ethutha thutha,would you think ukugfossipa loku hukhona okuyenzela ukuthi abanye othisha who are living with HIV bangakwazi ukuphumela obalwa baphila neHIV nanukuthi abantu basekhuhlaleni afundise izingane zobo bangathi uthisha unegculaza angeke sifundise, sozokhipha ingane zethu izikoleni, do you think that has an impact of othisha bangakwazi baphumele obala? {IsiZulu} [In the insert, Mr. Malevu said he changed schools a number of times. Would you think that gossiping prevents other teachers living with HIV from disclosing their HIV status? And that people in the community, would not send their kids to be taught by a teacher living with HIV? Do you think that has an impact on teachers disclosing their status?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: Ndicinga inobana ingabanjalo but mna ndiye ndazixelela intobana whatever they are saying izandi booster, ndayithathele ukuba yinto ezandibooster nje. Otherwise I think lento leyo othisha ingabayenza bangakwazi ukuthi come out. {IsiXhosa} [I think it does have an impact, but I told myself that I would take whatever they are saying as my personal morale booster. But I do think that stops a lot of teachers from coming out.]
Lihle Dlamini: I‘ve worked with othisha before and they never talked about themselves ukuthi HIV status sabo sikuphi and that entire staff. But they always talk about I status of ingane abazifundisayo because baya suspecta ukuthi that child might be infected with HIV because unama swollen glands and wena as a teacher who has come out living with HIV, I think kunabanye othisha abangathi bafider out later bezekhuwena bazofuna usizo, they are somekinds esikolweni bazoza kuwena bathi miss uma wami uHIV positive and nawe uyabona ukuthi umntwana uyagula bezebazo funa usizo lwakho. I know ukuthi ukusiza abanye abantu nawe unekhinga yakho is vey strainers and sometimes you feel like shutting yourself out from the whole world and uzivalele like uphile iphilo yakho. Is there any form of support mechanism that wena oyitholayo ukwazi ukuthi if kufika lesosikhathi lezizinto ukwazi uyodebrief khona ukwazi ukhulume namanye abantu uthulilele ezinye izikhinga zakho?{IsiZulu} [I’ve worked with teachers before, and they never talked about their HIV status and all that. But they always talk about the HIV status of the kids they teach. They suspect that a child may be HIV positive if they have swollen glands and as teachers who have come out with living with HIV, I think other teachers will learn about their status later and come to you for help. There are also kids at school that may come and say their mother is HIV positive and come to you when they are sick. I know helping other people when you have your own problems its very straining and just step away from it all. Is there any form of support mechanism you get where you debrief and talk to someone about your own problems?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: Sisi ndine support group endihamba kuyo ethekwini, ekuthiwa yiSiyamukela so khulo support group we have our support group izisemaqaleni singabanye ngabanye. Into eyenzakhalayo aphayana, sithi sifika kusupport group sizongalela whatever elapha kuthi ngaphakathi sizoyingalela kule support group. We talk of whatever basiyenzeka mhalmbe during the course of the week, uyithethe aphaya kusupport group yakho.{IsiZulu} [I’ve got a support group called Siyamukela in Durban. Others have other support groups on the side, but this is where we pour our hearts out. We talk about anything that might have happened to you during the week.]
Nokhwezi Hoboyi: Uba kuthe kwafika ixesha lokhuba ugule ngoku, kufuneka unyazeleke uba angabikho esikoleni mhalmbe inyanga yonke, okanye inyanga zibembini does I department of education imuthumele na umntu ozoba yi replacement yakho kwazele ukuba abatwana bangasaleli emva gezifundo zabo babefunda or kanye kuye kulinde wena na unde ubuye?{IsiXhosa} [If you fall sick and stay away for a month or two, does the Department of Education sends a replacement teacher so that the learners are not left behind in their studies? Or do they wait for you to come back?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: Like in 2004, mna ndiye ndahlala foa a month ndinga philanga into eyenzikhile kuye kwafuneka i-replacement teacher ukuba iyondibambela so yandibambela?{IsiXhosa} [In 2004, I was off sick for a month and they did send someone to cover for me until I came back.]
Nokhwezi Hoboyi: Yenzaka kuzonke izikolo?{IsiXhosa} [Does this happen everywhere?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: Ayiyenzeki kuzonke isikolo, kuba indawo yo kuqala i-principal azifani, that is the problem. {IsiXhosa} [No it doesn’t. Because principals don’t operate the same way everywhere.]
Vuyani Jacobs: Nxa yizo dependa kuba nice we principal no titshala it is wrong.{IsiXhosa} [If it depends on the principal and the niceness of teacher it is wrong.] because the system must cater for that. Which means that there should be programmes, there should be policy, because it should not just happen on individual schools or individual principals, if they want to do it or not. There should be clear programmes. Even your union, SADTU, should say this is what we’re doing and be very vigorous in doing that.
Shalom Ncala: Sizo phinda futhi sikhulume ngo tisha abaohila ne HIV amva kwekhefu, unganyakazi. {IsiZulu} [We talk more about teachers living with HIV after the break. Don’t go away.]
Shalom Ncala: M’bukheli siyakuamukela futhi eqenjeni lwe Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group. Uhlelo lawonke umntu ophila ongenwe futhi otithekayo yi HIV. Lapha futhi sinesivakashi esiqavile uMpumi Zungu – Dirwayi ovela eHSRC. Welcome sis Mpumi unjani? Siyaphila siyakujabulela ukuba nawe. Siphende sameme unkosikazi Ntomboxolo Bikitsha, oyi Director ye HIV and AIDS ku Department of Education,ukuze asisinze kulolindaba, yiyaku amukela ma.Ni njani, thina sisaphila. Manje sizozama ukufunisihepasa ngolwazi lwakha Nkosazana Vilo ne Tshepanga Trust ihlangano ezama ukusiza otisha abaphila ne HIV. {IsiZulu} [Welcome back to the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group. The programme for everyone infected and affected by HIV. Joining us now is our special guest, Mpumi Zungu–Dirwayi from HSRC. Welcome Mpumi how are you? Fine, thanks for joining us. We also invited Ntomboxolo Bikitsha, Director of HIV/AIDS at the Department of Education, to help us discuss this matter. Hello Ma Ntomboxolo, How are you? Now let’s find out about Ms Vilo’s experience of the Tshepanga Trust an organisation that tries to help teachers living with HIV.]
Durban, KZN, The Tshepang Trust for teachers living with HIV
Nomvuzo Vilo: I Tshepang Trust ndiye ndava ngayo, though ndivengayo iphepheni. But kange ndive kakhulu ngayo intobana yinto enjani, ndivile intobana icenda ititshala nge medication, though bandinga yazi ukuba ibanika njani na I medication utitshala.{IsiXhosa} [I read about the Tshepang Trust in the newspapers. I didn’t know what it does exactly, I just heard it helps teachers with medication. I didn’t know how it goes about providing that medication.]
Pumla Kobus: I Tshepang Trust it’s an organisation eyaqanjwa yi South African Medical Association. Specifically to look at HIV and AIDS in our country. Njengoba nisazi iHIV ikakhulukazi eyona into eyenza i escalate at the rate that is escalating in is the issue of stigma. Andifuni ukuya eclinic ukuyoma phayana and so I’d rather go to a private doctor apho ndaziyo ukuba nxa ndihleli apha nobody knows why I’m here.{IsiZulu} [ The Tshepang Trust is an organisation that was formed by the South African Medical Association, specifically to look at HIV and AIDS in our country. As we all know, the one thing that makes HIV escalate at the rate that it is escalating in is the issue of stigma. ‘I don’t want to be seen at the local clinic. I’d rather go to a private doctor where nobody knows why I’m there’.]
Lulama Mbobo, Department of Education: I HIV and AIDS iya contributer kwi absenteeism yo tisha, izikolweni. Ngoba bavele baya gula. And so awukwazi ukuthi izizwa ukuthi uyagula eh fanele uvukhe uhambe uye emsebenzini.{IsiZulu} [HIV/AIDS contributes to absenteeism of teachers at school. They do fall sick and so it’s difficult to go to work when you are feeling sick].
Nokukhanya Mdlalose, Tshepang Trust Doctor: I advice engingayinikenza otisha, ukuthi bazame ukuqikelela ukuthi ba register Tsepang Trust, ba register as members. U Tshepang uyakwazi noma imedical aid yakho istopper ukusebenza u register as an inactive member. Okusho ukuthi makungabe kuyayenzeka ukuthi ube nenkinga ku medical aid yakho, or kuyezakha iya suspender or iya exhauster the u Tsepang uzokhokhela amagazi a khokhele ne treatment ukuze kungabi nethuba la ungayidli khona itreatment. U Tsepang uyakhokhela amaspouses, abakwenyana, neyingane nomakhothi neyingane. Uma ingane ingaphansi kho 18 years, iyakwazi ukuthi ithole imithi kwa Tshepang kanye nomyeni ne nkosikazi womuntu ongasi utisha aza athole imedication kwa Tshepang.{IsiZulu} [The advice I would give to teachers is that they register with the Tshepang Trust. Even if you have medical aid, you can register as an inactive member. Which means that should you encounter any problems with your current medical aid? Tshepang will pay for tests and all your treatment so that you don’t go for some time without ARVs. Tshepang will pay for the spouse and the children. If the child is under 18 years, they can access treatment from Tshepang. Even a husband or wife who is not a teacher can get treatment from Tshepang.]
Lulama Mbobo: In terms of otisha and otisha ke ba affected kakhulu ngoba ngabo nabo okufanele ukuthi if khunomtwana ogulayo like isikolweni mhlambe o infected yi HIV and AIDS fanele utisha kube nguye omu suppotayo. Kwakhona if umtwana uhumtwana ongena bazali utisha wakhona fanele akwazi uku indentify abatwana laba.{IsiZulu} [We’re really not doing enough in terms of teachers. Teachers are most affected because they have responsibilities. If a child gets sick at school maybe from HIV, the teacher should show support. Again if a child is orphaned by HIV, the teacher should be able to identify such children]
Support group
Shalom Ncala: Sis Nomvuzo into engifuna ukuyazi kuwe, having seen in that insert bowungazi nge Tshepang Trust for instance have u found into ezekucenda about iTshepang Trust as a teacher living with HIV.{IsiZulu} [Nomvuzo, since you didn’t know much about the Tshepang Trust, have you found any information that will help you about Tshepang trust as a teacher living positive with HIV.]
Nomvuzo Vilo: Tshepang Trust ndive ngayo ephepheni for instance, Ndiyayichonda ukuba I Tshepang Trust izaba cenda ititshala kakhulu. {IsiZulu} [Yes, I found it after because after reading about the Tshepang Trust from the paper. And I do believe that it’s going to help teachers a lot.]
Shalom Ncala: Sisi Mpumi, ngi nomubuzo emiyi two, oyi one howakho omunue wakha mamu Ntomboxolo, {IsiZulu} [Mpumi, I have two questions, one for you, one for Ntomboxolo.] What was your recommendation to the Department of Education?
Nompulemelelo Zungu: Before kiphendula umbozo wakho, I think kubalulekhile ukuthi nginxaze banzi nge survey yethu esiye sayiyenza. I HRSC njengoba uyewatsho iyenze i survey ukuthi 12.7 percent yo tisha baphila ngegciwane leHIV. I 12.7 percent kahle kahle sikhuluma ngo tisha bakhati khuka 42 000 ukuya ku 47 000. And phakathi kwalabo tisha abaphila ne HIV siyesathola ukuthi 10 000 yabo bane AIDS so fanele bafumane itreatment. And that is if si user I criteria ye CD4 count where lapho sikhuluma khona ngo 200 ukuthi umuntu bakhane CD4 count engaphansi kwe 200 which is beyisebenzisaw ngu Department of Health. And then if u thatha le ka WHO lapho uthola ukthi otisha baphila abasene AIDS bangu 23 500. so I recommendation zethu ezathi fanele kubekhona I treatment programme zibakhona izikolweni so is a workplave treatment programme. Ezokwazi ukuthi ifikelele kubo tisha. Kuphinde futhi kubhekwe I prevention ibaluleke kakhulu. If si notisha abanga phezulu ku 300 000 kulabo botisha only 40 000 i infected or iphila negciwane le HIV kukhulu esingakwenza ukuthi lobo abangabi infected nabo bangabi infected. I recommendation zethu fanele kube nama programmes e-prevention. {IsiZulu} [Before I answer that, it’s important that I first explain a bit about the survey. The HSRC’s survey found that 12.7 percent of teachers are living with HIV. 12.7 percent translates to between 42 000 and 47 000 teachers. And out of those numbers, 10 000 have AIDS and need to be on treatment. That is if we use the CD4 count criteria, where AIDS is defined by a CD4 count of less than 200. This is the Department of Health’s criteria. If you use the WHO’s criteria, the number of teachers living with AIDS is 23 500. So we recommended that there should be a treatment programme in schools, so it’s a workplace treatment programme that will be easily accessible to teachers. We also looked at prevention because it is also very important. If we have more than 300 000 teachers and only 40 000 are living with HIV, there’s a lot we can do to keep those not yet infected negative. So we also recommended that there should be prevention programmes.]
Shalom Ncala: Kuwe Mama Ntomboxolo, yini into nayiyenza do to a ma recommendations nawayenzela HSRC? {IsiZulu} [Ntomboxolo, what have you done due to the HSRC’s recommendations?]
Ntomboxolo Bikitsha: Shalom mandi qale ndichaze kanje, the current programme ekhoyo yabo tisha, which is your Prevention, Care, Treatment and Access programme abbreviated as PCTA. Yi programme eya startwa by teacher Unions.{IsiXhosa} [Let me start by saying, the current programme in place for teachers which is your Prevention, Care, Treatment and Access programme abbreviated as PCTA. The programme was started by teachers unions.] The programme has a prevention component, it has a care and prevention component, it has a component that particularly deals with treatment which then the Tshepang Trust, which is the trust to South African Medical Association, that then is providing treatment. The programme then is only currently on three provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape. So teachers already have been released from schools and they are within the Labour Relations, they are being trained therefore on prevention, on providing care and support programme on how they can assist other colleagues to access treatment on site where ever on the accredited site of the Department of Health.
Busisiwe Maqungo: uNomvuzo uthe makha vuzwa nge Tshepang Trust, hayi mna andiyazi ndiva kuthethwa ngayo elathukheni as zi TVini, but I wonder i information enjalo ifikelela njani kotisha ukuba mabayazi ukuba kukho I services izululuhlobo?{IsiXhosa} [When Nomvuzo was asked about the Tshephang Trust, she said she doesn’t know much more than what she heard in the media. How does information about such services reach the teachers for them to know that these are services they can access?]
Ntomboxolo Bikitsha: As I Department you kuqala emva kwayoke lento. Eyekuqala into siyesayiyenza, kuye kwathethisana ne unions,kwa vunyelwana intobana masebe I poster isizoba nayoe encourage utitshala intobana maba-tester. Le poster ibalwe SMART intobana you must be must, you must go and test.{IsiZulu} [The first thing we did as Department of Education, after talking to the teacher unions, we agreed to put up a poster that encourages teachers to get tested. This poster has the word ‘SMART’; you must be smart, go and test.]
Shalom Ncala: Having herad idlela abawa thatha ngawo ama recommendations e HSRC yi Department of Education how many of amacolleagues akho, accessing zonke lezonto lezi esisesikhulengazo khuna ma posters a baliwe e VCT they can go for VCT izinto ezinjalo. Has it led to action on the part of the teachers’ ukuthi bahambe bayo funa usizo in trem bayo funa information, VCT, as well as itreatment kanjolo, kanjalo?{IsiZulu} [Having heard how the department has dealt with the HSRC’s recommendations, how many of your colleagues are accessing all these things, whereby posters encouraging teachers to go for VCT have been put up? Has it led to action on the part of the teachers to go and seek help in terms of information, VCT, treatment and so on?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: I think mna I posters athetha ngazo azikhaphi nitsi kangakho, as much as mna bendiqala ukuzibona elaxesha bendiye ku doctor Mdlalose e Durban. It was the first time ndibona iposter aplakiweyo I plakwe phakathi isurgery aqirha which means.Ibe andizange kugqirha bendisoze ndiyibone le poster leyo. {IsiZlu} [I don’t think the posters she’s talking about are yet widely available. I saw it for the first time when I went to see Dr Mdlalose in Durban. That was the first time I saw a poster of that sort. It was inside the doctor’s surgery, which means I wouldn’t have seen it If I hadn’t gone to the doctor.]
Shalom Ncala: Sizo phinda futhi sikhulume ngo tisha abaohila ne HIV amva kwekhefu, unganyakazi. {IsiZulu} [We talk more about teachers living with HIV after the break. Don’t go away.]
Shalom Ncala: M’bukheli siyakuamukela futhi eqenjeni lwe Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group. Uhlelo lawonke umntu ophila ongenwe futhi otithekayo yi HIV. {IsiZulu} [Welcome back to the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group. The programme for everyone infected and affected by HIV.]
Nokhwezi Hoboyi: Kuhlanganiso zenu nigotitshala,ku agenda yenu niye niyifake i-HIV and AIDS? Nibe nilifumane ixesha elithetha nge HIV and AIDS? {IsiZulu} [In your meetings as teachers, do you have HIV on your agenda? Do you ever get to talk about HIV/AIDS?]
Nomvuzo Vilo: Uyazi into ene HIV and AIDS I think inetyhene ebatwini. Because when you start to talk about HIV and AIDS umuntu uvela athi wow uzoba usixelela ngale HIV and AIDS, so abantu bavele baphele bandikwa ungayazina ukuthi bafunantoni na?But ikhona I programme ebakhona ebizwa ngomye utitshala udlama uku attendeder izito ze HIV and AIDS aze asititshe ngazo. Kodwa into eyenzakayo utitshela uvela ubone ukuba azinamdla.{IsiZulu} [I think HIV/AIDS is just a boring topic to other people, because once you start talking about HIV/AIDS, people lose interest. They just walk away. But we do have a programme headed by one teacher, who teaches us about HIV, but you find that other teachers are bored.]
Nokhwezi Hoboyi: Nxa wuncinga wena abantu babengela yintoni? {IsiXhosa} [What do you think is the cause of that?]
Nomvuzo Hoboyi: I think mna abantu baya balekhela into yokuba bazi istatus sakhe, that is way babelekha ukuthetha nge HIV and AIDS. {IsiXhosa} [I think they are scared of knowing their own HIV status.]
Lihle Dlamini: Anye into ngiye ngiyibone iyenzeka izikolweni yikuthi if khuno tisha that is dedicated to HIV and AIDS ubanguyena yendwa oba responsible for HIV and AIDS. Even a attender amaworkshops, umewafika uthi I’m from this organisation ngifuna ukuyeza I workshop kuthiwa go and talk to Ms to Mr so and so wuye odealer nge HIV and AIDS. And everyone what to ukuthi azitletlese am much as possible kuHIV and AIDS. And I think they should face up into reality nabo they are part of isociety esiphila kuyona, they are part of our community ukuthi uhutisha imini akusho lokho ukuthi uphila kwenye iplanet, siphila kusame community, they our brothers, our sisters, our partners kusho ukuthu they have to get involved bangazi isolate because umutnu yena uzibona ahutisha ungcono unestatus esi much better than other people.{IsiZulu} [Another thing I see happening in schools is that if there is a one teacher who is educated to HIV/AIDS that will be his or her sole responsibility. When you come from your organisation to do a workshop, they say go and talk to Ms or Mr so and so, they are responsible, and everybody distances themselves as much as possible from HIV. I think they should face up to the reality that they are also part of the society, they are part of our community. Being teachers by day doesn’t mean they live on another planet. We live in the same community, they our brothers, our sisters, our partners as well which means they have to get involved in everything we do and not isolate themselves, just because they are teachers they are much better than other people.]
Ntomboxolo Bikitsha: I-HIV siyazi ukuthi yi-emergency, [The Department of Education knows that HIV is an emergency, educations know that] it is an emergency that is taking away a lot of people from the class room and therefore affecting the quality of education. So we funeka siqiniseka ukuba nxayingeko u Nomvuso eklassini kufuneka abekhona utitshala working immediately. {IsiZulu} [need now to ensure that if Nomvuzo is off sick, a stand-in teacher must walk in immediately.]
Shalom Ncala: Namhlanje sifunde ukuthi singakwazi ukwaka indawo yokuphila yokwazi ukukhuluma nokuqapha ngaphakathi khotitsha ukuze bakwazi ukukhuluma ngesimo sabo. Otisha abane gciwane le HIV kufanelwe bakhuthazwe ukuthi baphuze amaARVs umasekhundingekile. Akundingekile ukuba no tisha oweqisa amalanga wokuza emsebenzini ngenxa yokugula noma ukuthi abulwawe yiHIV and AIDS. Lokhu kuzosisiza ukuthi ukuthuthukisa ukwazi ukukhuluma emphakathini nokhufundisa abafundi nge HIV and AIDS. Sibonga zonke izincwadi zenu enizuthumelayo sicela nihlale nizithumela njalo. Siyayijabulela imibono yenu nemi buzo yenu ngakho ke sicela kumniningwane eniyibona ngezansi. Sithemba ukuthi ulijabulele uhlelo lwethu futhi unomoya wo Siyayinqoba sisinke singayohlula. Hlangana nathi futhi evilini elizayo eqenjweni leSiyayinqoba Beat It! Kuze kube yileso sikhathi hlala unephilo futhi unethemba.Salani kahle.{IsiZulu} [Today we’ve learnt that we can create an environment of openness and awareness amongst teachers so that they can be open about their status. Teachers living with HIV have to be encouraged to take ARV’s when they need to. It is not necessary to have teachers missing work because of AIDS related illness or death. This will help encourage openness in the community, and to educate learners affectively about HIV/AIDS. We appreciate all your letters, please keep them rolling in. We value your comments and questions, so please contact us on the details below. We hope that you enjoyed the show and are feeling the Siyayinqoba spirit, that together we can Beat It! Join us again next week in the Siyayinqoba Beat It! support group. Until then, Stay healthy, stay positive. Goodbye.
Question: Teachers living with HIV should feel comfortable about disclosing their status to learners.
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