Being financially independent means that you’re completely responsible for your own expenses, or no longer rely on your guardian/partner to give you money or cover some of your bills. Financial independence can mean different things to different people, but it’s important for young people to work towards being independent and empowered to make our own life decisions. Here’s how.

Assess yourself

Learning about ourselves isn’t always easy. But the more you know about yourself, the better decisions you’ll make about your lifestyle. Start by evaluating your skills and achievements. This can help you decide on ways to make income, such as finding a job (part time/full time) or starting a business.

Examples of part-time jobs could be a shop assistant, waitress or a part-time bank teller, to name a few. Also, working part-time will look good on your college/university application and future job applications.

Set financial goals

Writing down your life goals and how you’ll achieve them financially is a good step. This includes re-writing and reviewing your short- and long-term goals consistently, and thinking of ways to accomplish them. For example, short-term goals can be focusing on debt payment and a long-term goal can be budgeting towards a house or car. It’s important to be patient when reviewing your long-term goals.

Draw up a budget

Budgeting is a must. It can help you control your spending, track your expenses, and save more money. Budgeting can also help you make better financial decisions, prepare for emergencies, get out of debt, and stay focused on your long-term financial goals.

Try not to be too hard on yourself when trying to stick to your monthly budget, because there may come a time when you may need to tap into your savings for something important.

Start saving now

Financial planners always say it’s important to save 10% of your income for future needs, for emergencies, and to have something to fall back on when needed. Saving isn’t easy, and requires a lot of discipline to stay on track, but it’s the single most important habit that’ll change your life. It doesn’t matter how much you earn; putting a portion aside will start building your savings. Learning to save early in life will help you achieve your goals much quicker, and get you financially independent.

Be disciplined

Although it’s a good idea to have some spending freedom now and then, having financial discipline allows you to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy spending. Automating your savings helps you avoid the temptation to spend your money on things you don’t need. You can talk to your bank about automating your savings. 

Organising and planning our finances is vital. We need to have a healthy relationship with money so we can be mindful of where our income goes, and also be able to plan for the future. Following these simple tips will help you become more financially independent. Do you have any other tips? Share them in the comments!

Going to the clinic can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve experienced challenges or uncomfortable situations in the past. Here’s how to be better prepared for your next visit.

New patients

If you’re a new patient at clinic, you’ll need to take your ID with you on your first visit. You must provide your ID details to reception so they can open a medical folder for you. You’ll also need to provide the following details:

• Your home address
• Proof of address (for example a bank statement, however, if you can’t provide this, a verbal address will also be accepted)
• Your contact number
• Details of your next-of-kin (e.g., family member)

Returning patients

If you’re an existing patient, you’ll need to produce your clinic card. If you’ve lost the card, you’ll be issued with a new one once your details are retrieved from the system.

Waiting time

It’s important to remember that not all cases are equally urgent, so take note of the waiting time at your local clinic. When arriving at a clinic, you’ll be assessed by a healthcare worker and given a colour or placed in a line corresponding to how severe your condition is. It’s best to go as early as possible and take a book or your earphones to keep you occupied while waiting. Remember to wear comfortable shoes.

Some services at clinics will require you to make an appointment. To help reduce your waiting time, state the reason for you visit to the administrative staff and they’ll direct you to reception. There, you’ll be asked the reason for your visit depending on the service required, and the clinic will give you a date and time for your appointment.

Referrals

Once you see a healthcare provider, your condition will be assessed and treatment will be determined. If you need a follow-up or specialised care, the healthcare provider will write you a referral letter. Although public facilities are free, it’s important to enquire about any fees you might be charged for your treatment, especially with specialists.

If you’re still overwhelmed by the process, feel free to DM me- I’ll give you advice and info on youth friendly facilities near you.

There are different choices when it comes to contraceptives, but not all methods are right for everyone. Your decision on the type of contraceptive you’d like to use is personal. You should carefully weigh the factors, risks, and benefits, along with the effectiveness of each method before starting birth control. Here’s more.

Factors to consider when choosing a contraceptive

Your age and health history.

Your reproductive goals, as well as whether or not and how soon you’d like to get pregnant.

Relationship factors such as marital status, number of sexual partners, and partner preferences.

Religious beliefs.

Differences between birth control methods, including how effective they are at preventing pregnancy, side effects, availability at clinics near you and costs.

Types of contraceptive methods

Barrier methods– An example of a barrier method is the male and female condom as well as the diaphragm, cervical cap and contraceptive sponge.

Short-term hormonal methods– these include birth control pills, the vaginal ring, patch and injection. These are considered short-term methods because you must remember to take them on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Long-term methods – these include the hormonal and non-hormonal IUD and implant. They’re considered long-term methods because they can last for 3 to 10 years after insertion, depending on the device used.

How effective are contraceptives?

To be effective, any method of contraception must be used consistently and correctly. Contraceptives that require little effort on your part, such as IUDs and implants, are associated with lower pregnancy rates. Methods that require monitoring such as the pill and injection, are associated with higher pregnancy rates. If you’re on a short-term contraceptive method, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to take the contraceptive (eg. at the same time every day).

Your options

The method of contraception you choose depends on your reproductive goals. Depending on if and when you want to fall pregnant (after stopping contraception), your healthcare provider will be able to advise on the best contraceptive for you.

If you’re certain that you don’t want to get pregnant at any time in the future, you may prefer a permanent method, such as sterilisation. 

What are the side effects?

Some contraceptives, particularly hormone-based contraceptives, can cause side effects. When choosing a birth control method, talk to your healthcare provider about possible side effects and how they might affect your choice.

Other benefits

Some contraceptives provide benefits for some people, such as reducing acne, making your periods lighter and more regular, and easing menstrual cramps. If these benefits are important to you, they may influence your choice of birth control option.

It’s important to choose a type of birth control that suits your lifestyle. The best method of birth control for you is one that’s safe, comfortable to use, and that you can use consistently and correctly. Remember that not all contraceptives protect against STIs. To make sure you’re protected, you need to use condoms in addition to the contraceptive that you decide to use.

Emergency contraception is contraception that can be taken when you have had unprotected sex –through a condom breaking, sex without a contraceptive or condom or if you have not used your contraception correctly (forgotten to take a pill or have not had your injection on the date given to you). 

There are two types of emergency contraception: The emergency contraception pill (also known as the morning-after pill) and the IUD. Both can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex if used within 5 days, but the sooner the better.  

How do they work?

The emergency contraception pill makes sure that your body is unable to become pregnant. It works by stopping or delaying the ovaries from releasing an egg. This pill has hormones that are similar to oral contraceptives, but have a much higher dose. It also works by changing the lining of the womb to stop a fertilized egg from being implanted. The IUD prevents fertilisation. 

When should I take emergency contraception?

The sooner you use emergency contraception after unprotected sex, the better your chances of preventing pregnancy.

You can use emergency contraception up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex but the sooner you use it, the more effective it is. 

Where can I get emergency contraception? 

You can get emergency contraception from your clinic, from some pharmacies and from your doctor. 

Fast facts to know:

• Emergency contraception is to be used when: a condom breaks or slips off during sex, another contraceptive method has been defaulted on (e.g. forgot to take pill, missed injection) and in cases of rape.
• This pill can be taken up to 3-5 days after you have unprotected sex, but it is most effective when taken after 72 hours (3 days).
• It can be found your local clinic and can be purchased at most pharmacies.

Remember, if you have had unprotected sex, you may also be at risk for HIV and STIs, so discuss what to do with your healthcare provider.  

Your healthcare provider may recommend PEP which is medication you take after possibly being exposed to HIV. 

This booklet provides the CANGO—Global Fund grant project success stories which
illustrate positive change/changes in the life or lives of the project beneficiaries.

What is pandemic fatigue?

Living through a pandemic can take its toll on our physical and mental well-being. As the weeks go by under lockdown, many of us have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings, from sadness to anger to tiredness. This is known as ‘pandemic fatigue’. Here’s all you need to know about it.

What is pandemic fatigue?

Pandemic fatigue is the exhaustion you may be feeling after spending over a year dealing with our new life and all the struggles that come with it. You may have lost loved ones, jobs, missed out on experiences and life milestones, like graduations, weddings, and funerals.

You may feel cooped up or cut off from your usual hobbies. You may even be tired of the safety protocols that take extra time. You may also be missing family and friends that you haven’t been able to visit due to the lockdown. All these feelings contribute to pandemic fatigue.

How to overcome pandemic fatigue:

Reflect and accept

Take time to check in with yourself and reflect on how you’re doing. If you feel irritated, impatient, angry, or are suffering from fatigue, accept that all these responses are normal and understandable during such a difficult time.

Monitor your social media

Limiting the amount of time you spend on social media can help reduce feelings of tiredness. Purposely tuning in to negative stories on TV or on social media fuels fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and fatigue.

Be compassionate with yourself

Don’t expect perfection and don’t get stuck in mistakes or missed chances. Nobody prepared us for the pandemic. We’re all taking it one day at a time, and it’s completely fine if you don’t have all the answers or always know what to do.

Prioritise self care

Since we’re spending most of our days at home due to the lockdown, it’s important to make sure we take care of our physical and mental health. You can do this through exercise and active self-care, as well as staying connected with friends virtually and online. As a wise person said, we isolate now so that no one is missing when we get together.

We’re living through a period of increased anxiety over our health, vulnerable loved ones, finances and job security. With the future looking uncertain and the public instructed to stay at home, many of us are feeling isolated and stressed. If you’re finding it difficult to cope with anxiety reach out to me.

Pandemic fatigue is real, and the way it affects you may not be the same for a friend or family member. Although it seems hard, we need to find a way to respect these new boundaries, but still live the version of life we’re used to.

HIV and AIDS and your rights

HIV/AIDS Stigma has a negative impact on those who want or need to test and receive treatment due to the amount of judgement surrounding the illness within communities. As a result, those needing treatment are often afraid to seek HIV services due to the fear of being seen and experiencing discrimination from the community.  Discriminatory views are influenced by many factors, including ignorance about HIV transmission. People living with HIV/AIDS have the same rights as every other person in society and we should ensure that their rights are also protected.

Rights of people living with HIV

• No person may be tested for HIV infection without his or her consent beforehand.
• You can consent for an HIV test without parental consent if you are over the age of 12.
• You are free to make your own decision about whether to be tested or not. You can’t be forced to test.
• Pre-test counselling should occur before an HIV test is undertaken.
• Post-test HIV counselling should take place before the person receives their HIV test results.
• People with HIV and AIDS have the right to confidentiality and privacy about their health and HIV status.
• Information about a person’s HIV status may not be disclosed to anybody without that person’s fully informed consent.
• People with HIV/AIDS have the same rights to education, housing, food, social security, medical assistance and welfare as all other members of our society.
• Medical schemes may not discriminate against any person on the basis of his or her state of health.
• People have a moral and legal responsibility to tell their sex partners if they are HIV positive and no one has the right to disclose on their behalf.
• All people have the right to proper education and full information about HIV and AIDS and how to prevent it.

The Right to access healthcare

Every person in South Africa has a constitutional right to access healthcare services as part of the Bill of Rights and should not be discriminated against. Discrimination by the community and by healthcare workers prevents many people from being open and honest when they seek medical help. It also discourages people from seeking and adhering to HIV prevention and treatment services. If a clinic refuses to provide clinical services to you based on your status, you have the right to report it to the clinic Matron or the Ministry of Health.

Confidentiality of HIV results

The results of your test including your identity should remain strictly confidential. If your right to confidentiality has been abused, you can make a claim for damages against the health care worker or the hospital/clinic which abused your rights. You can also lay a criminal charge against the health care worker, or the head of the hospital or clinic employing the worker.

Your HIV status should not determine how you are treated by those in the community. People living with HIV have the same rights as everyone else in society and these rights should be protected at all time. Being HIV positive doesn’t make anyone less worthy than the next person. Remember that people living with HIV can live a full, healthy life by taking their treatment as prescribed and taking care of themselves. I encourage you to share these rights with friends, family and those in your community so that we can eliminate the stigma around HIV/AIDS and eventually achieve an AIDS free generation.