WSU GRADUATE TO HOST AIDS AWARENESS TV SHOW
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Latest updates – Monday, 25-Feb-2013 9:49
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WE CAN BEAT IT: Mihle believes that through education, the HIV/Aids virus can be defeated |
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WSU GRADUATE TO HOST AIDS AWARENESS TV SHOW The old adage ‘dynamite comes in small packages’ rings no louder and truer than in the case of dimunitive 21-year-old WSU journalism graduate Mihle Pike. And very soon this young mover and shaker’s explosive personality will be invading our screens as she’s set to make her television debut – hosting one of South Africa’s most infuential shows in a few months time. As the brand new host for Siyanqoba Beat It!, SABC’s flagship HIV/Aids magazine show, Mihle will have the massive responsibility of drawing new audiences, as well as maintaining current ones, to the show. A mammoth, yet pertinent task indeed, owing to the fact that the show aims at shedding some light through educating the greater community about HIV/Aids, a pandemic which sees this country enveloped in a cloud of terrible darkness. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me and my career. I am still taken aback by the thought of being on TV. I hope my strong opinions, steadfastness and passion about this pandemic will help me make some sort of difference,” says Mihle. There’s extra added impetus and pressure for Mihle to become a change agent within society, and this none more so than from herself. Like so many around her being affected by the scourge of HIV/Aids, she feels she needs to honour the memory of those who’ve had the misfortune of falling victim to the disease, whilst in the same breath providing a ray of sunlight by bringing hope to those who continue to live with the disease. “I am strongly affected by HIV/AIDS myself and feel as though my knowledge and the will to learn will help in empowering and somehow shedding some light to other people who are too afraid to ask the questions,” says an impassioned Mihle. She starts shooting for the forthcoming season at the end of February, a prospect at which her heart skips a beat at the very thought of, an anomaly covered with a nervous smile. She wants what any child wants – to make her parents proud. With a journalism diploma in hand, Mihle says her days of endless studying and attending lectures have paid off, especially when dealing with the research aspect of her job. “The research part of my studies has helped me a lot, especially when doing medical research, which I constantly have to do. I love doing this research because I get to learn something new each day,” she says. Youth development also rests close to this young future community activist’s heart. She believes mobilisation of the youth through awareness campaigns and education is a necessity if the country is to confront its social ills, because the youth is at the epicentre of everything, whether it be productive or destructive. “Social ills have taken our country by storm and this saddens me but I believe that through education we can somehow curb these ills. It is very important to know that when one knows better one makes better decisions so I believe it is all about education when it comes to combating the social ills,” says Mihle. Premature as it might seem, she also delved into the sort of legacy she’d like to leave behind after her tenure comes to an end. She said realising that one teen out there decided to use a condom, a mother decided to go to the clinic early and get herself tested, and most importantly that a family still has a dad because he finally decided to go and start taking his ARV’s would be impacts that would bring warmth to her heart. ” Responsible living starts with you. As soon as any individual understands this then we as a country would have combated half the problems we have. Protect yourself, protect others,” concluded Mihle. Issued by: |
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