South African Police Service (SAPS) Talk

Posted by Openly Positive in News, Talks

On 21 May 2010, Derrick Fine addressed 400 recruits at the SAPS Bishop Lavis Training Institution’s International HIV/AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Living Positively with HIV. Derrick challenged SAPS members to do 20 things to promote open talk about HIV, positive living and human rights. For example:

• “Be a role model in your own life and as an SAPS member: respect all people as human beings and don’t tolerate any kind of unfair discrimination, abuse or xenophobia.
• Don’t be scared and don’t delay to have an HIV test: the result gives you a chance to take control of your life.
• If you are sexually active, regularly retest and try to stay HIV negative.
• Don’t let stigma and fear stop you getting support if you are living with HIV – please don’t wait until you are ill before you get support.
• Support SAPS colleagues, friends, family and community members who are living with HIV.
• Treat every day like HIV Day – we should include HIV awareness and action in our thinking and our work every day, and not just on special days like the Candlelight Memorial and World AIDS Day.”