First Things First is an initiative of the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme. The HIV programme has been running successfully for 7 years.
The Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS), started the First Things First initiative 7 years ago. The initiative offers testing for HIV, STI’s and TB at universities across South Africa.
The clever way they are able to remove the fear and taboo around the testing is by offering other important health care options such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular health and cancer testing. The programme also provides family planning, dual contraception, reproductive and maternal health services to students in need.
“A impact study has shown that the integration of general health services with HIV testing has strengthened the relevance of the entire programme,”
To date they have tested over 500,000 students. The end goal is to reach at least 2 million students, this could be the first big step to an HIV-free generation.
“In 2016 we provided HIV testing and counselling to more than 160 000 students in universities and TVET colleges,” said Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, Director of HEAIDS. “We also distributed over 15 million male and female condoms. Our goal is to reach all two million young people in our higher education institutions and to help create an HIV-free generation,” he continued.
“The future prosperity of our country depends on the students in our higher education institutions. They are our future leaders. It is critical that we equip them with the knowledge and skills to remain HIV negative and healthy,”
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