• 95292

At the World TB Day Commemoration on 24 March 2013 at Pollsmoor Correctional Facility, Yvonne addressed the offenders seated before her and said, “I am a Mama.”  This said it all…  Her level of caring;  her passion!!!  Thank you, Yvonne, for commending our proudly South African ‘Kick TB & HIV’ campaign and expressing your interest to collaborate with us in the future!  And to our followers out there… WATCH THIS SPACE!!!  The onslaught against TB & HIV is HUGE!!!  Our Government is PROVING it; and the likes of Yvonne Chaka Chaka is LIVING it!!! 

Wena Moelich and Yvonne Chaka Chaka – 2 Mama’s who CARE!!!

We are all at Pollsmoor Correctional Facility…  A beautiful day;  a beautiful venue!  The day started off with a Kick TB & HIV activation with 500 offenders.  Their level of knowledge of TB & HIV was impressive.  They clearly enjoyed the programme and were very appreciative.  We played a mini soccer tournament, and unfortunately the team from National Department of Health was defeated by the offenders to the extent of 4 – 0…  Due to security reasons we unfortunately cannot publish any photographs.

The formal event, in a beautiful marquees tent, started at 11:30.  There were so many good messages – it was a most uplifting day.  The Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Sibu Ndebele enlightened us on what happens in correctional facilities – clearly these facilities are a source of hope and a new chance at life for offenders.  Minister of Health, Dr Motsoaledi, informed that correctional facilities are their focal nodes this year, given the number of TB infections.  The Deputy President, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, was the Key Note Speaker.  His message was inspiring and it is very clear that we have leaders who deeply care.  The highlight was when 6 GeneXpert Machines were handed over to the Minister of Correctional Services by the Deputy President…  This action said it all!  TB & HIV will be ERADICATED in our Correctional Facilities!!!  At World TB Day 2014, we will give feedback on our work in this regard!

 

MEC Health Western Province, Mr Theuns Botha and National Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi

Key Note Speaker: Deputy President Mr Kgalema Motlanthe

The highlight: handing over of 6 GeneXpert machines by the Deputy President to the Minister of Correctional Services

 

The build up to World TB Day (24 March) is now tangible…  Since 4 March our amazing team has been working VERY hard in Khayelitsha:  door to door visits; screening and testing for TB and HIV;  social mobilisation at schools and every hot spot imaginable – it was an incredible effort by so many people!

On 22 March Dr Motsoaledi visited the learners of Ludwe Ngamlana Primary School.  He clearly enjoyed himself tremendously, playing with the learners and interacting with the community.  We have a Minister of Health who really cares – it was a joy to behold!

Thank you to Mrs Dube, Principal of the school, for arranging to open the school for us on that day, which was in fact a holiday…  Also a huge thank you to her dedicated and committed staff – you did this for your learners and we salute you!  Looking back, it was a beautiful, beautiful day… 1400 learners now know how to ‘kick’ TB and HIV!!!  Laduuuuuuuma!!!!!!

Gearing up for the BIG event…

21 March 2013… Human Rights’ Day!!!  Our beautiful mobilisation trucks (3 of them!)  were parked on an open space in Inkanini and the atmosphere was electric!!!  Something very special was about to happen here!  Children started thronging towards us and as the music started, even more of them came!  Community members watched the programme from their homes – we were really amidst the people at ground level with our powerful TB and HIV health messaging!  It was a memorable day in every way!  Approximately 600 children experienced the ‘Kick TB & HIV’ magic!

Our beautiful World TB Day truck – the perfect platform from which to disseminate our health messaging!

Human Rights’ Day = Happy Children! One, two, three – KICK TB!!!!

Thank you once again to Erica Jacobs of ‘TB Free Kids’ for linking ‘Kick TB & HIV’ up with 6 very special schools in Ravensmead and Uitsig.  We greatly enjoyed our work in these high TB burden areas.  Just driving through these communities is a joy – all you see is children playing with Kick TB & HIV soccer balls.  And we KNOW that they are empowered to change the tide… TB will be eradicated in Ravensmead and Uitsig!!!  Mrs Williams, the Principal, was quite emotional when we left after our programme – and we knew – one day we will come back!!!

How can we ever thank the funders of Kick TB & HIV enough for keeping our campaign ‘on the road’ – and there where we are needed most - amongst our learners in South Africa!  Thank you to Lessie Mnisi, Program Development Specialist of TB USAID Southern Africa for joining us at Nebo Primary. We shared some very special moments reflecting on where Kick TB started in 2010, and how it has progressed to Kick TB & HIV – with sooo much wonderful work still to be done!  Working very hard behind the scenes during the entire World TB Month was Ms Lerato Legoabe of the USAID TB Programme - thank you, Lerato.  You have helped us incredibly!

Learning about TB and HIV has NEVER been as captivating!

Our partners are keeping ‘Kick TB & HIV’ alive… Lessie Mnisi of TB USAID Southern Africa – 2nd from the left.

On Wednesday 20 March our beautiful Kick TB & HIV truck arrived at Uitsig Primary School – the excitement was tangible!!!  The stage came down; the LED screen went high up into the air… the scene was set for some SERIOUS learning about TB and HIV!!!  Thank you to Mr Mowers, the Principal, for his wonderful welcome.  We had the time of our lives teaching the learners in this very special learning environment!

Beautiful children; a beautiful school!

‘Look at me learn’…

When the Kick TB & HIV Team reached the Tygersig Primary School, they were stunned by the beautiful gardens on the school grounds…  We all know that a beautiful, clean and cared for environment adds to learners’ learning experience at school.  It was a pleasure to meet one of the members of the ‘Dignified Spaces’ project, who is very involved in creating these lovely gardens:  Ms Jill Sheard – we salute you, and also Dr Pren Naidoo, for your great initiative!  May your project grow and grow so that many more schools will be encouraged to do what you are doing.  Jill was happy to report that the school has taken ownership of the beautiful gardens and that they are doing the maintenance with great passion and commitment.  Wonderful!!!

Please follow this link to look at some of their other projects:  www.dignifiedspaces.co.za

Jill Sheard and her ‘green fingers’ – doing a superb job at Tygersig Primary School!

A beautiful environment ensures happy learners!

What an absolute pleasure visiting this lovely school!!!  Mr February, the Principal, welcomed us with open arms and the learners and staff made our short visit a memorable one.  The learners were brilliant during the interactive Question and Answer session – showcasing their knowledge about TB and HIV.  They will certainly disseminate the health messaging to their families, friends and the community!  Mr February said that the visit from the Kick TB & HIV team will certainly remain the highlight of their school year… thanks for that, Mr February!  Another 1200 learners are now empowered with knowledge to change the TB statistics in the highly affected area of Uitsig…

We always start off our programme with a dancing competition… it was WILD!!!

Learners agreed that the Kick TB & HIV educational programme is just the COOLEST ‘classroom’ in South Africa…!!!

What a sight to behold… what a BLESSING!

So eager to learn!

800 super-excited learners…  Mr Windvogel, the principal, just as excited!!!  Community members thronged outside the fences, also listening and following the health messaging…   Today the Kick TB & HIV team is ensured that 800 new TB ambassadors have joined their fight against TB & HIV – thank you, Tygersig Primary School!

Mr Windvogel sets the standard by kicking TB and HIV out of Tygersig Primary School!

 

Kick TB & HIV was proud to partner with the TB/HIV Care Association on 18 March 2013 during their march from Parliament in Cape Town.  Even though the rain drenched us all, we stood strong and raised awareness regarding many issues related to TB and HIV in South Africa.

Prof Harry Hausler, CEO of TB/HIV Care Association, disseminated critical health messaging to the public, followed by a powerful speech by WC Minister of Health, Theuns Botha.  

Minister Botha and prof Harry Hausler then symbolically ‘kicked’ TB and HIV out of the Western Cape, by kicking one of the Kick TB & HIV soccer balls into the net.  What a wonderful example for us all to follow!!!

The march ended at the Cape Town Station Forecourt, where mobile units were doing TB and HIV screening and testing

David Beckham has some serious competition…. Minister Theuns Botha has a SOUND kick against TB and HIV!!!

Prof Harry Hausler (TB/HIV Care), WC Minister of Health Theuns Botha and Wena Moelich (Kick TB & HIV)