Students want to educate community about vaccines
The role of vaccines to protect a society’s health is the focus of an awareness initiative that will take place in Lovers Lane today.
The Students Advocating for Leadership and Transformation initiative, also known as SALT, is inviting students and staff of the North-West University (NWU), as well as the Potchefstroom community, to join the event, aimed at tackling vaccine hesitancy.
SALT has been hosting monthly events during 2023. SALT Chairperson Onthatile Mosweu said: “The whole purpose of the day will be to promote awareness about different vaccines and the importance of them in our lives.”
Mosweu indicated that SALT will address aspects such as routine vaccinations for measles-mumps-rubella, influenza, chicken pox and Covid-19, amongst others.
“We do not want people to be google doctors, so we are sharing information, for free, that will benefit them in times of need. We will have treats in syringes to give to students,” said Mosweu.
Speaking about SALT-organised events already Mosweu said: “In April we arranged a mental health awareness event called ‘Let it go’. Students were invited to come and let go of everything that was bothering them at that moment – academic, personal or dating stress.”
SALT also hosted a campaign that focused on students’ health and wellness. The campaign took place from 18-19 April at Cachet Park.
“Apart from spreading awareness about certain topics, we are also peer educators,” said Mosweu.
She explained that it is easier for students to communicate with students about topics that may seem sensitive because they understand each other. “We therefore strive to equip students with all the knowledge that they need”.
SALT works with organisations such as Shout-It-Now, an organisation focusing on sex education, The Aurum Institute, a non-profit organisation who works to advance health science and innovation and the Department of Health.
“The clinic on campus does not really cater for the large student population. We need these organisations to also help us [with the services we offer],” said Mosweu.
“We are not professionals and therefore we need professionals”. They [professional health services] offer services such as pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Covid-19 tests, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and Tuberculosis (TB) screening and scanning for gender-based violence (GBV).
“SALT is a worthy initiative. We want to educate and help students where help is needed,” said Mosweu. She emphasised that everyone is welcome to attend their campaigns as “there is no criteria” for joining.
Established in 2016, SALT was initially a peer helper program, and it was called HIV/AIDS Advocates. The program consisted of about 10 members.
According to SALT founder and qualified social worker , Mario Chauque, said this name did not appeal to everyone. After a brainstorming session the members came up with the acronym SALT.
“After sharing it with my advocates, who loved it, they added that they bring taste into student’s life on campus,” said Chaque.
This non-profit initiative strives to incorporate various health-related aspects into their work, including gender-based violence, LGBTQIA+, sexually transmitted infections, Tuberculosis, mental health and substance abuse.
More information on SALT campaigns can be found on their social media platforms.
SALT will be in Lovers Lane from 9:00 to 13:00.
For more information go to SALT’s social media platforms:
Instagram: nwusalt
Facebook: NWU SALT
Twitter: NWU SALT