Durban — The provincial MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, has called on the public to take their medication accordingly for a healthy lifestyle.

Simelane shared these sentiments during a Health Awareness Blitz hosted by the department, which also saw the MEC interact with the public during a walk on the Durban beachfront on Monday.

The services that were offered across the mobile clinics that were stationed at the venue included free HIV and Aids testing, antiretroviral medication, and free testing for other chronic illnesses such as tuberculosis.

The annual event formed part of the department’s ongoing campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle during the festive season.

According to Simelane, the department had discovered that when people go on holiday, they often take a “medication holiday”.

“We have made it our responsibility to have proper campaigns during this time so that people know that when you are on holiday, it does not mean that you must go on medication holiday.

“Medication holiday is a challenge in that it actually pushes people towards defaulting. So, the intention of this campaign is to actually make sure that people are aware that going on holiday does not necessarily mean they must go on a medication holiday,” she said.

Simelane said that it had been noted that people were not typically fond of visiting health services and that it worsened during the festive period, therefore the services were brought closer to the people.

She said that family and community members had a role to play in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane during a Health Awareness Blitz on the Durban beachfront. | Zama Ngcoya.

“We always call on communities to work together with the government to make sure that our lives are different and are better. Communities often know who is infected with TB and who is infected with HIV and so forth, and the most people who default are those that are on TB treatment or ARVs. So, we make a call towards communities to ensure that we work together towards ensuring that people do not actually default,” she said.

Simelane said that others defaulted due to the lack of access to proper food and water and that working with communities would ensure that the relevant people get the required access to the medication.

She said that being on medication should not be a stigma and that everyone who needed treatment ought to be able to access it.

“Chronic medication is not just about ARVs. There are a lot of other treatments that are chronic and we do not ask each other or talk to each other about it. All you have to do is to just take your treatment because it is important to do so, to extend your life,” she said.

According to entertainer Sizwe Mdlalose, the event was significant.

“We tend to overlook the issue of a healthy lifestyle. In everything that you do, especially as the new year is about to commence, monitoring your health is very important. Your well-being should be a priority. In everything that one does, they are encouraged to stay safe,” said Mdlalose.

A member of the public, Mbalenhle Magwazwa, said that this was an important exercise and called on the youth to heed the message, for their well-being.

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