Higher Education Dept brings HIV, TB education to Durban students
The Higher Education Department is creating awareness around its "First things First" programme at one of the eThekwini Tvet College's six campuses in Durban.
With the 15 to 24 age group being the most vulnerable to contracting HIV, the programme aims to bring testing closer to students through HIV screening centres at universities across the country.
The programme has been running at universities since 2011 and it was only in 2014 that it was extended to Tvet colleges.
Deputy Minister for Higher Education Mduduzi Manana says the screening centres not only include HIV testing but also screen for TB, blood pressure, cholesterol and breast cancer.
''We are trying to say to our young people - if they get tested and if they test positive we will encourage them and we will put them into treatment care and support.
''If they test negative, we encourage them to stay negative because we are investing billions of rands into their education and their skills. Therefore it is important that we get returns on the investments that we are making because this is money that is meant for their development,'' he said.
