Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - September 15, 2007
Phindile Chauke
Van Schalkwyk this month set up testing stations at her court for staff to take voluntary HIV tests. This is the first time testing stations have been set up at the court.
Van Schalkwyk also made sure that staff had access to information on how to lead a healthy lifestyle if they were HIV-positive.
Soul City, New Start - a professional HIV-counselling and testing service provider - and the Gauteng Department of Justice and Constitutional Development helped to facilitate the testing. Volunteers were tested and got their results in just 15 minutes.
Van Schalkwyk, who is also the president of the Judicial Officers' Association of South Africa, said: "We know South Africa's pandemic needs a response, and how better to do so than by knowing your status? There are a lot of benefits to awareness and training. It is also important for the public who come to court on a daily basis to see us as encouraging testing and knowing one's status."
Her testing initiative originates from her work in community outreach projects.
"I have been reading the Sunday Times' HIV/Aids campaign articles and it has played a part in my own campaign coming alive," she said.
Van Schalkwyk's eagerness in creating awareness stems not only from her professional standing and influence, but also from being a mother to two daughters, aged 18 and 20, and a 13-month-old son.
Though she is satisfied with her older children's level of understanding of HIV/Aids, Van Schalkwyk has been personally affected by HIV/Aids - a major contributor to her becoming an activist.
"I have seen a lot of people die and some of them without having disclosed their HIV status. I do know people who are HIV-positive. And I think it's ideal for the judiciary to take the lead in creating awareness," she said.
"Like many people, I was also scared when I went to test. But I feel the pain of those infected and the children left orphaned. Being HIV-positive should not be a death sentence, because knowing your status will help you and those around you. We are all responsible, be it living positive or negative, to curb the scourge of Aids," Van Schalkwyk said.
Five of Van Schalkwyk's judiciary friends across the country, Zeenat Carelse, Gaynor de Wee, Brian Nemavhidi, Tshifiwa Maumela and Naomi Engelbrecht, have also volunteered to go for testing to show their support for the Sunday Times Each One Reach Five campaign.
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