2011-11-30: City of Joburg World AIDS Day 2011 commemoration
FIFTEEN more clinics in Johannesburg are providing comprehensive anti-retroviral treatment to communities bringing the total number of comprehensive, care, management and treatment of HIV and AIDS clinics across the City to 40. The city has achieved 50% of ARV treatment rollout in local government clinics within Johannesburg.
As part of the City of Johannesburg build-up towards World AIDS Day, the Antiretroviral Treatment (ARV) Centre was launched at Weilers Farm Clinic to provide antiretroviral treatment and follow-up care for people infected by the HIV and AIDS in Kanana Park, south of Johannesburg last week.
On Thursday, 01 December 2011 the City of Johannesburg will commemorate the annual World Aids Day by focusing on the importance of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) and HIV education at Newtown Park. The event will start with a community march from Joburg Park Station and will proceed to Newtown Park, where various speakers from beneficiary communities within Johannesburg will share their experiences as affected and infected.
The theme for the 2011 World AIDS Day is Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths. The theme aims towards the global goal to reduce HIV related deaths by 2015.
In the evening of 01 December 2011, the City of Johannesburg will also be joining over 100 countries globally in the Light for Rights Campaign where three HIV ribbons will be switched on at the southern side of the Johannesburg Metro Centre building.
The red HIV ribbons which were developed by City Power and will remain lit for one month in recognition of the three zero’s towards healthy living for people living with HIV and AIDS and their affected families.
"We want to emphasize that the City is determined to fight the battle against HIV and AIDS using optimally the resources we have at our disposal. We will continue, as we always do to mobilize all sectors of the community wherever they may be found - be it in taxi ranks, in the streets or in communities to fight HIV and AIDS", says Clr Nonceba Molwele, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg.
"We need to deepen an understanding amongst the community about the preventative measures against HIV and AIDS, and to help dispel all kinds of myths and misperceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS", said Molwele.
Leading up to the World AIDS Day activities the City conducted a project named "Khari ambe – Let’s Talk" Youth Dialogues in all the seven regions. It targeted youths in each region to engage in dialogue about AIDS issues including counselling and testing, medical male circumcision and substance abuse, over – youths participated in the dialogues, a report summarizing the key issues affecting youth on HIV and AIDS including STIs will be released in January 2012.
For more information contact:
Nkosinathi Nkabinde
Communication Specialist
City of Johannesburg Public Liaison Department
Tel: (011) 407 - 6477
Cell: 083 408 7787
E-mail: nkosinathin@joburg.org.za
