The co-ordinator of HIV/Aids at the University of Venda, Mrs Azwihangwisi Mavhandu, encouraged residents of Tshiozwi, west of Louis Trichardt, to disclose their HI virus status to their relatives.

Mudzusi said this while addressing villagers during an HIV/Aids campaign held at the settlement last Saturday. The campaign was organised by the outgoing chairperson of the civic association at the village, Mr Avhatakali Mavhandu.

Mudzusi said that they told those who are not infected to remain HIV negative. "We also try to promote voluntary testing, so that the villagers can live responsibly. We encourage those who are already infected to adhere to positive living and to join support groups of people living with the dangerous disease," she said.

Mudzusi further told villagers to disclose their HIV status to their relatives, so as to get more support and curb the stigma attached to people living with the HI virus. Mudzusi said that people believe the reality of the HI virus after the address of several individuals who are living with the virus.

"When we received the invitation, we were also told that a number of residents are dying at the villages and nobody knows the cause of their death. We are of the view that residents of Tshiozwi will develop a change of heart and live positively and responsibly," she said.

Avhatakali Mavhandu told Mirror that the other aim of the campaign was to familiarise people with the silent killer disease and to remove the stigma attached to it.

"We want our residents to develop fear about this disease as that will drastically reduce the infection rate. We will continue talking about this disease in our meetings at the village," he said.