Local Aids Council convenes to tackle issues

Stakeholders in the Local Aids Council (LAC) convened to discuss issues pertaining to HIV and Aids on September 23. The meeting, held quarterly, put the progress of the initiative under the microscope. Councillors and representatives from all 31 wards attended the meeting.

The LAC was created to coordinate and monitor programmes in the fight against HIV and Aids. Using statistics based on information gathered by stakeholders, the LAC network could identify areas of focus.

Among the problems identified was the high prevalence of “sugar daddies”. Young girls, primarily of or just above high-school-going age, were identified as being more vulnerable to infection. Boys were found tending to contract the disease at an older age than their female counterparts. High rates of abortion were discovered, prompting the LAC to redirect a large chunk of its focus to schools.

Programmes aimed at getting young and old alike to embrace behavioural change, were discussed.

Religious sectors representative, Rev Koloko, voiced her apprehension at the large gap between the Department of Health and Faith Based Organisations. She encouraged testing at churches and emphasised the need to talk openly about the problem.

The Ward Aids Committees, created in every ward, were created specifically to gather information pertaining to HIV and Aids at ward level. The LAC is looking to strengthen every Ward Aids Committee to report on figures of infection in their area.

“The fight against HIV and Aids cannot be successful unless information at the ward level is made known. As demographics differ, knowing which areas to target is made easier by having people on the ground identifying problem areas. We need to work together, from the bottom up,” said LAC representative, Samke Dube.