World AIDS Day: Mayor calls for an end to stigmatisation
26 November 2015
Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau has called on religious leaders to use part of their church services on Sunday November 29 to highlight critical issues surrounding HIV-AIDS in the build-up to World AIDS Day on Tuesday December 1.
Mayor Tau, who is also Chairperson of the Johannesburg AIDS Council, says two of the crucial issues that must be put in the spotlight are the stigmatisation of people living with HIV-AIDS and discrimination against those infected or affected by the disease.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele concurs with the Executive Mayor, saying that stigmatisation and discrimination are at the core of several activities that the City and its partners have planned to commemorate the event. Political leaders and health representatives are expected to attend imbizos that the City will host in the various regions on Friday December 4.
“The City’s Department of Health has also organised a number of activities, including door-to-door campaigns and dialogues, targeted at specific audiences,” said MMC Molwele.
One of the programmes is Tshepa Thapelo, which recognises the pivotal role played by churches and faith-based organisations in shaping attitudes around HIV-AIDS and providing leadership in the fight against stigma and discrimination. Another is the Tjovitjo campaign, a joint venture between the departments of Community Development, Health, and Sports, Arts and Culture aimed at learners. The messages are communicated through sports, arts and cultural activities.
The event will be held at David Webster Park in Troyeville on Wednesday December 9.
Five-a-side soccer, netball, theatre, poetry and music will be interspersed with dialogues and positive messages about HIV-AIDS. Man-2-Man Dialogues will be used to reach out to men to encourage them to take responsibility in combating the spread of HIV-AIDS.
Ons Phola Hier is aimed at commercial sex workers and men who indulge in sex with other men. These are considered the most vulnerable sectors of society that are often reluctant to access healthcare services because of stigma and discrimination. Other World AIDS Day commemoration events will take place at San Kopano Hall in Alexandra (Friday November 27); Sol Plaatjie informal settlement in Roodepoort (Tuesday December 1); Ennerdale Sports Centre in Ennerdale (Thursday December 3); Midrand West Clinic in (Saturday December 5) and Freedom Park informal settlement in Devland (Friday December 11).