More than 2 500 people attended the first official Community Media Trust (CMT) Open-day this year in Kwazulu Natal. Held at the JL Dube Stadium in Inanda on May 13, the event highlighted the importance of testing, with different speakers taking the podium and addressing the crowd.
The community took advantage of a range of free services on offer including tests for HIV, TB, diabetes, blood pressure and eye check-ups, as well as pap smears and advice and referral on male circumcision. The Department of Home Affairs were in attendance and people could apply for ID books. The Department of Agriculture distributed seed for vegetable gardens and drinking water was supplied by the Department of Water Affairs.
Among the speakers was the Inanda councillor, Sibusiso Shembe who led the candlelighting ceremony in memory of those who had died from HIV/AIDS.
Making the event fun and educational, different dance groups performed and people were given a chance to win prizes by answering questions about the importance of early testing for HIV, opportunistic infections, sexually transmitted infections and medical male circumcision.
Musa Ndlovu, an Inanda resident said: “I am here to measure my sugar levels. Thank you to the department of health and Siyayinqoba for doing this.”
Another resident said: “We appreciate the help we got today. We got checked for diabetes and blood pressure and we had our eyes tested.”
