Twenty years after the first World Aids Day was held, the virus is still killing a thousand people a day. A range of activities have been planned in a bid to keep up awareness of the pandemic.

AT noon on Monday, the country will come to a standstill, with workers downing tools for 15 minutes to mark World Aids Day.

The planned shutdown has been negotiated through the National Economic Development and Labour Council, or Nedlac, and is being driven by the South African National Aids Council, Sanac.

Various activities will take place in Johannesburg to mark the day.

Executive Mayor Amos Masondo will hand over R1,2-million to 25 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that support infected and affected people. The cash is from the Johannesburg Mayoral Aids Fund, which was established in 2002 as part of the Johannesburg Aids Council.

NGOs that will get money include Westbury Aids Support Group, Boithoko Home-based Care, Ncedisiwe Multi-purpose and Thandanani Place of Safety. The event will take place at Protea South Hall in Protea South, in Soweto at 12pm.

On 2 December, the City will host a party, Every child's birthday, for a thousand orphans and vulnerable children at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia. The event will start at 10am.

Infection rate down
According to Nkosinathi Nkabinde, the spokesperson for the City's health department, there has been a slight drop in the HIV infection rate in Johannesburg - from 30,6 percent in 2006 to 29,7 percent in 2007.

"This drop is a result of initiatives like the Jozi Ihlomile programme and increased access to voluntary counselling and HIV testing provided in all health facilities in the City of Johannesburg."

The When Life Happens arts and culture festival will take place from 3 to 14 December in Newtown. It aims to use visual art, performance poetry, music, literature and contemporary dance to raise awareness of HIV and Aids.

It will start with an art exhibition at Museum Africa, featuring the works of budding artists. Entrants in the 2008 When Life Happens Festival Poster Competition will also be exhibited at Museum Africa. The HIV and Aids awareness posters must be self-designed and handmade by learners from grades 11 and 12. The competition winners will be announced at the festival's official opening, at Museum Africa on 3 December at 6.30pm.

Poetry
Both exhibitions will run from 3 to 14 December, with doors open from 10am to 5pm daily. A poetry and music concert will follow on 4 December at the Bassline. Starting at 7.30pm, musicians, deejays, and poets will pledge their support for the HIV/Aids cause.

Then, the Dance Factory will perform contemporary dances on 5 December at 7.30pm and on 6 December at 6pm.

A nationwide work stoppage has also been planned, uniting the government, unions, business and civil society. The 15-minute shutdown from midday on 1 December has been negotiated through Nedlac, and is being driven by Sanac.

World Aids Day is held on 1 December around the world each year, to focus attention on the global pandemic. It was first held in 1988 to raise money for, increase awareness of, fight prejudice towards and improve education about the virus.

Today - some 20 years later - it is also used to remind people that the disease has not gone away, and there is still a lot to be done. According to the World Health Organization 34,3 million people in the world have the HI virus; about 5,7 million people in South Africa are HIV-positive; and there area almost 1 000 Aids-related deaths every day.

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