Polokwane men’s dialogue addresses GBV
Kgatelopele Community-Based HIV Service Organisation held a men’s dialogue focusing on HIV, GBV, prostate cancer, and substance abuse.
POLOKWANE – The Kgatelopele Community-Based HIV Service Organisation held a successful men’s dialogue on November 20 in Blood River, addressing issues such as HIV, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), prostate cancer, and substance abuse.
The event, part of Kgatelopele’s ongoing initiatives, aims to educate through programmes such as Men Championing for Change (MCC), which mobilises men to lead in HIV prevention efforts.
Margaret Mlondobozi, a social behaviour change mentor, stressed the importance of well-being. “In most cases, when we talk about GBV, the focus is on women and children. Men also face abuse but are often afraid to speak out. This silence can lead to depression or even suicide”.
The dialogue included a Q&A session where participants actively engaged with educational discussions. Free HIV testing was also made available. “I’m very happy with the turnout. We were expecting 100 men but hosted more, which shows people are willing to take charge of their lives. The engagement was excellent, with many questions asked that sparked meaningful conversations,” Mlondobozi concluded.
