PRINCESS STEPHANIE VISITS HEALTH4MEN
packs to Princess Stephanie
Princess Stephanie of Monaco dropped in to the Health4Men sexual health centre for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Cape Town last week.
The princess stopped by during her visit to various HIV/Aids organisations in the Mother City on 6 December as part of her duties as a UN Aids Goodwill Ambassador.
She is also the President of her foundation, called Fight AIDS Monaco, which supports people living with HIV and combats its stigma.
“We’re coming to see projects that we have in common in Monaco. All Aids-related. So we’re probably going to visit some groups that help out people, especially women and children living with AIDS in the townships and other associations that we can help,” she said.
One of the sites the princess visited was Health4Men’s flagship clinic, the Ivan Toms Centre for Men’s Health in Woodstock.
According to Glenn de Swardt, Programme Manager for Health4Men, the staff was pleasantly surprised at how approachable and down to earth she was in her casual attire of jeans and white t-shirt.
De Swardt added he was personally very impressed by “the Princess understanding a lot of gay ‘lingo'”. He quipped that this “clearly indicates that she must know a few more ‘queens’ herself.”
Health4Men offers sexual health services for men who have sex with men and has clinics in Woodstock, Khayelitsha, Bellville, Soweto and Yeoville.
It is so nice when influential people use their fame to do good and promote good living. That is when I really get respect for a person. No matter what they are involved, but anyone who contributes to society to make people’s lives better is worthy of respect. Fame only exist because people put you there, so I feel that there is a social responsibility to give back, even if it is something as little as making a public statement speaking out against injustice. That, for instance for me is what makes Lady Gaga GREAT. Sure she uses her weirdness to get attention, and yes her music is okay. But the really great thing is that, seeing that she is the most followed person on twitter, she has the power to make people think. And whatever she is, she publicly stand up for good, and acceptance and equality. Well done Stephanie. You just scored MAJOR brownie points.
This is a feel-good moment, but I just hurt hen I ask myself why someone from overseas must come to SA to highlight this – where are the SA leaders? Health4Men do incredible and brave stuff for us all so why don’t our own so-called leaders visit them and acknowledge this?