South Africa: Ekurhuleni Gears to Fight Against HIV, Aids
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
7 September 2008
Posted to the web 8 September 2008
Luyanda Makapela
Johannesburg
"Knowing my status Kuyangiphilisa (gives me life)" is the phrase driving the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality's campaign focusing on the importance of regular voluntary counselling and testing for HIV.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign on Friday at the Germiston Civic Centre Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health, Isaac Bangilizwe explained the significance of the campaign.
"As Ekurhuleni, we have services that are aimed towards mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS on our employees and the community and we have set out on this campaign to reinforce and increase public understanding on HIV and AIDS," he said.
The Knowing My Status Kuyangiphilisa Campaign started with the launch and will culminate into road shows which will see the campaign being taken down to the masses encouraging them to do voluntary counselling and testing for HIV.
The Ekurhuleni Health Department has partnered with the Gauteng Department of Housing and WOLLA Communications to educate communities about HIV and AIDS.
It will also assist on how to utilise existing health care services if infected, encourage communities to know their HIV status, and to highlight the effects HIV and AIDS pandemic has on service delivery especially housing.
"As a Housing Department we are faced with a situation where many main beneficiaries pass on and leave children parentless," said Mayoral Committee Member for Housing Ndosi Shongwe.
She added that the municipality was embarking on inter-departmental campaign to address issues "holistically."
The municipality has targeted areas including informal and formal settlements, small holdings, hostels and other high-risk areas as determined by high incidence and prevalence rates and socio-economic factors.
On 15 September, the road show will target Matendeni, Lindelani and Gugulethu-Everest in the eastern part of Ekurhuleni,
On the next day it will move to the northern part of the region in the areas of Tembisa, Sethokga hostel, taxi ranks and other neighbouring townships.
The final road show will take place in Makause, Reiger Park, Ramaphosa and Phola Park in the southern part of Ekurhuleni.
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Women and children are seen as the most vulnerable groups in informal settlements as a result of poor conditions that they live under.
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