Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - February 7, 2009
Bongani Mthethwa

It was his warning that those who had sex without knowing their HIV status were no better than killers that encouraged the 21-year-old to take an HIV test last year.

And his advice paid off in more ways than one.

Not only does Hlongwane know her HIV-status, she is also R100000 richer as the sixth winner of the Right to Know campaign.

The campaign was launched by Discovery Health and the Sunday Times in July last year to encourage HIV testing.

Hlongwane tested in Durban at the call centre where she works, after Discovery Health spoke to staff about HIV and conducted tests.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal graduate said there was "openness in my family" about the disease, so she knew whatever the outcome, she would have a good support structure at home.

But the wait for results was difficult: what if she tested positive; how was she going to live her life?

"I was thinking about all these things and it was such a huge relief when my results came back negative," said Hlongwane, who comes from Sigisi near Empangeni.

"It's scary to do an HIV test, especially when you're waiting for the results. But I'm happy that I did the test because young people like me are afraid to do it."

She said it was important for young people to know their status so they could shape their lives.

"This is more so in a rural community. You get people there who have Aids but don't want to open up. Some end up dying early, whereas if they had opened up, they would have received proper counselling and taken care of themselves."

She said her grandfather had read a newspaper article about Aids and cut it out for everyone at home to read.

The article emphasised the importance of knowing one's status because this could prevent the disease from spreading.

She described her grandfather as someone who was very passionate about social issues, including HIV/Aids, and who liked to discuss issues with the family.

"He reads a lot, listens to the news and watches TV - and then he discusses issues with everyone in the family," she said.

Hlongwane already has a degree in industrial psychology. Now she plans to use the money to pursue an honours degree in human resource management or clinical psychology.

"I couldn't go back to school because of lack of funds," she said. "I think the money is a good incentive for people to find out their status.

"If you're negative, you must keep it that way, and if positive then you must take early precautions. If you have the virus you can still lead a healthy life for a very long time."

She encouraged young people, in particular, to get tested.

"Because we are young, we tend to be reckless sometimes and that's why Aids is hitting us so hard. My word of advice to my peers is that they must stick to the ABC of Aids: abstinence, be faithful and condomise."

You could win R100000 by taking an HIV test. Take the test, with counselling, and collect your result. Fill out this entry form and post it to PO Box 1742, Saxonwold 2132, or drop it in the Right to Know box at any Clicks or Dis-Chem pharmacy. Enter once only - your entry will stay in the draw for the duration of the competition. For more details, or to find out where to get tested - and what to do if you test positive - go to www.thetimes.co.za/specialreports

Get free counselling

# HIV affects all of us. And the more we talk about it, the better we understand it. If you are living with HIV or caring for someone with it, please share your story with us. And send photos if you feel comfortable with that. E-mail your story to: everyoneknows@sundaytimes.co.za or fax it to 011-280-5151.

# Clinical psychologists Khumo Seopela and Kgamadi Kometsi offer HIV counselling free every Saturday morning between 9am and noon, at 4 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg.

To book, fax 011-280-5151 or e-mail counselling@sundaytimes.co.za. Bookings are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The sessions will take place in private.

# Themba Interactive offers free counselling on Mondays and Fridays at 58 Jorrisen Street in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, from 8.30am to 4pm. Call 011 403 9367.

# Bambanani Medical Centre in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, offers free counselling and HIV testing for 50 patients a month on a first-come, first-served basis for the next 12 months. Contact Miss Esthe Bolleurs on 013 282 5218 / 013 282 5062 or e-mail: bmc.occhealth@telkomsa.net, mstayob@telkomsa.net or acbassa@telkomsa.net

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