World AIDS Day is observed internationally on December 1 annually.
As part of its commemorations, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) together with the Gauteng Department of Health and other partners, embarked on a number of activities to commemorate this day.
The Johannesburg Aids Council, chaired by the executive mayor of the CoJ, Clr Parks Tau, includes representatives from government, civil society, labour and business.
The council will conduct a citywide HIV and Aids Awareness Campaign under the theme, “Zero Stigma and Discrimination” to show support for people living with HIV.
“The campaign seeks to showcase that the CoJ is working towards attaining the goals of the Johannesburg Strategic Plan on HIV, STIs and TB. The aim is to address social and structural barriers that increase vulnerability to HIV, STI and TB infections, preventing new HIV, STI and TB infections, sustaining health and wellness and increasing the protection of human rights”, said Clr Nonceba Molwele, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in Johannesburg.
“The activities are based on survey results released by the HSRC, South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey, 2012 which revealed that South Africa has made considerable progress in turning the tide of HIV incidence. However, the battle against HIV and Aids has not yet been won, and unless there is a continued effort to address the complex medical, social, economic, and human rights issues, the gains of the last decade could be reversed,” said Clr Molwele.
This survey produced prevalence data at municipal level and showed that, as with provinces, there are variations in HIV prevalence in the metropolitan areas.
The highest prevalence rates were recorded in eThekwini (14.5 percent) in KwaZulu-Natal and Ekurhuleni (14.3 percent) in Gauteng, followed closely by Buffalo City (13.6 percent), in the Eastern Cape. The City of Tshwane (11.7 percent) and the City of Johannesburg (11.1 percent) recorded HIV prevalence figures slightly lower than the national average of 12.2 percent.
The CoJ’s HIV and Aids awareness programme include the following events:
r The Tjovitjo Sport Campaign on Thursday, November 27, which targeted school-going pupils through sport, arts and culture. It took place at the Chris Hani Sports complex in Orange Farm.
Youngsters engaged through an event that provided them with a platform to express their feelings and provide solutions to their challenges. The event was a mixture of sport and arts, interspersed with dialogue and messages.
r On Saturday, November 29, the Man 2 Man Dialogue took place at the Sandton City Mall (Sandton Library) and Sandton taxi rank.
It was an exhibition of messages, dialogues and engagement with men, on a one-to-one basis. This was critical because it afforded men an opportunity to change and be part of the solution, rather than perpetuating the challenges associated with the the spread of HIV.
r The Gauteng Provincial World Aids Day event was held at the Walter Sisulu Square, in Kliptown in Soweto on Sunday, November 30. The event was part of the P.A.S.O.P media campaign that was launched by the Gauteng Department of Health.
The key message was:
P= Prevent new infections
A= Avoid getting re-infected
S = Stop the spread of HIV, AIDS and TB
O = Overcome stigma and discrimination
P = Protect yourself
The CoJ will also host an employee’s engagement event to commemorate World Aids Day on Friday, December 5, where all the CoJ’s employees will be invited to a dialogue session. The session will be facilitated by Dr Tiny Mhinga at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein.
“The education campaign highlights the importance of testing for HIV by everybody as part of a healthy lifestyle. The campaign will also increase the level of HIV and Aids awareness and understanding in the community. It also focuses on social issues fuelling the HIV epidemic, such as poverty, gender imbalances, substance abuse and sexual abuse. HIV testing and counselling, screening for TB, hypertension, diabetes, cancer as well as Male Medical Circumcision services will be offered at all the events,” said Clr Molwele.
The CoJ urges all residents to participate in the campaign by supporting and allowing identifiable volunteers into their homes.
All sectors (NGOs, Faith Based Organisations and Community Based Organisations) are also urged to intensify the dissemination of information during the campaign week, promoting care and support for people infected with and affected by HIV and Aids.
