|
World Aids Day is on 1 December, and Johannesburg has an awareness campaign
planned; it is also supporting Aids orphans. But the biggest event is the
massive 46664 concert on the day.
The City will be raising awareness in the build up to World Aids Day on 1 December
T
HE City is embarking on a citywide HIV/Aids awareness campaign in the build
up to World Aids Day on 1 December.
The day is recognised internationally each year to draw attention to HIV/Aids
and its impact on the world. In Johannesburg, more than 3 300 volunteers have
been trained to administer the campaign. They will undertake door-to-door visits
in all seven regions in a bid to raise awareness about the illness.
Another 400 peer educators will take part in an office-to-office education
campaign.
"This method is seen to be more effective in ultimately changing the sexual
practices that lead to the acquisition and transmission of HIV and [sexually
transmitted infections]," said Nkosinathi Nkabinde, a communications officer in
the health department.
"All communities are encouraged to participate in this programme by allowing
volunteers into their homes." Volunteers will be easily identified.
Throughout the drive, the City's health unit will be running HIV and Aids
public awareness campaigns aligned with the Gauteng HIV and Aids strategy. They
would cover the importance of getting tested for HIV and increasing the level of
awareness of HIV and Aids issues, Nkabinde said. "[We want to] help communities
understand such issues.
"[It will] highlight social issues fuelling the HIV epidemic." These included
poverty, gender imbalances, substance abuse, and sexual abuse. Information about
services in the community and at workplaces to support people infected with and
affected by the pandemic would also be available.
The door-to-door campaign will be in Diepsloot Extension 1, adjacent the OR
Tambo Clinic, from 10am until 12pm on 26 November. Support visits will be made
on 27 November to the Dudu Zwane Hospice, a shelter for people with HIV and
Aids.
The City will also host a candlelight memorial service at the Metro Centre
from 8am until 1pm on 28 November.
There will be an "every child's birthday" on 30 November at Little Falls in
Roodepoort for about 700 orphaned children, co-ordinated by the human
development and health departments. "The event is about celebrating all the
children's birthdays combined, to acknowledge that each child has a birth date
[worth] celebrating," said Nthatisi Modingoane, the City's media liaison
officer.
Activities will end with the 46664 concert, which has an impressive line-up
of local and international acts. The concert takes place on 1 December, World
Aids Day, at Ellis Park Stadium.
Related stories:
|
