Different conversations
FOCUS: RADIO PERSONALITY TAKES ON NEW ROLE
Criselda Kananda is the new ambassador of the Fezile Dabi HIV/Aids concert.
Nandipha Pantsi
She’s been at the forefront of HIV and Aids awareness for years, i inspiring progressive c conversations about the highlyhighl stigmatised virus. But radio personality Criselda Kananda sayss she still has a lot more to do.do
We me meet at a restaurant in Midrand. S She’s excited about two things – H Her new role as the Fezile ile Dabi HI HIV/Aids Benefit Concert ambassado ambassador and her engagement.
Kanand Kananda didn’t think twice when she was offered the role, previously held by Lesego Motsepe, sepe, who passed away earlier this year.
As an activista who has always been comm committed to changing the way peoplepeop think about HIV and Aids, Ka Kananda acknowledges a lot hasha been achieved when it comesco to HIV and Aids awa awareness.
“When“I announced my eng engagement last week, a lot of people were genuinely ui really happy and supportive of me. A few years ago the idea of an HIV-positive woman getting married would have been met with a lot of shock and judgment. For a long time I was considered ‘the face of HIV and Aids’ instead of a media personality who did a lot of educational work in HIV and Aids awareness – and it used to bother me.”
Despite this progress, Kananda admits there are still a lot of challenges when it comes to being an HIV and Aids educator.
“Very often people only start educating themselves about HIV when they or someone close to them is infected with it. A lot of people still need to embrace the knowledge that is out there about the virus and speak about it openly and honestly.
“Trying to educate people about the virus by scaring them is not acceptable any more. We need to start having deeper conversations about things such as nutrition and treatment, instead of limiting our discussions to condoms.”
The Fezile Dabi HIV and Aids awareness programme was launched by the Fezile Dabi Dis-
Criselda Kananda
trict Municipality to raise awareness and funds for NGOs within the district.
“I really hope this event becomes a benchmark for HIV awareness programmes.
“We need to stop seeing HIV as something that is someone else’s problem. We can’t have campaigns with slogans such as: ‘My friend with HIV is still my friend’ any more. We need to start personalising the way we learn and speak about HIV,” says Kananda.
For more information on the Fezile Dabi HIV/Aids Benefit Concert visit