Joburg volunteers promote HIV-testing benefits
29 November 2016
As World AIDS Day on Thursday December 1 approaches, the City of Johannesburg’s Health and Social Development Department and the Gauteng Department of Health have deployed hundreds of highly trained volunteers to communities to increase awareness of the benefits of HIV testing, counselling, prevention and treatment programmes.
The healthcare volunteers have been visiting homes, churches and the youth, in particular, to educate them about HIV-AIDS.
World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year. This year’s event will be held under theme: “It is in our hands to end HIV and TB.”
The City aims to reach out to marginalised communities to escalate awareness. On Saturday November 26, the City held a Tjovitjo Prevention of HIV-AIDS STI TB (HAST) awareness campaign using sport, arts and culture at Pennyville Park, near New Canada, outside Soweto.
The City’s Health and Social Development Department, Gauteng Department of Health and non-governmental organisations such as Show Me Your Number, Bophelong HIV, Right to Care, Jozi Hlomile, Medical Male Circumcision Referrals and Pennyville Concerned Youth Development held dialogues with several youths on HIV-AIDS and how to prevent, avoid, stop and overcome the disease.
The event was used to promote a healthy lifestyle among the youth through sport, which included a five-aside football competition, music and dance.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Cllr Mpho Phalatse said the aim of the campaign was to educate people in an effort to prevent new HIV infections, especially among the most vulnerable groups.
Cllr Phalatse said it was imperative to accelerate action around the protection and empowerment of young women and key population groups.
“This will be achieved through various focused prevention and care programmes. It is important for everyone to know their HIV status and respond responsibly. If you are HIV negative, choose to remain negative. If you are HIV positive, stay healthy and start or continue taking treatment,” Cllr Phalatse emphasised.
Sister Lydia Twala, a Region B HIV-AIDS Co-ordinator, said the main focus was on the youth because statistics showed that 2 000 girls between the ages of 15 and 24 were infected each week.
“We believe it’s our duty as health workers to focus on the youth and females, in particular, because they are the most vulnerable in the community. We hope this awareness campaign will go a long way in preventing new infections and the spread of the disease,” she said.