On Tuesday, 24 November 2020, the City of Johannesburg will hold a virtual discussion focusing on People Living with HIV as part of the City’s Department of Health’s build up to World AIDS Day which is commemorated on the 1st of December annually worldwide.
The virtual discussion, to be addressed by the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development Cllr Eunice Mgcina, is aimed at reaching out to those residents at high risk of acquiring HIV with prevention messages and strategies and to reflect on the country’s progress, successes, gaps and challenges in response to HIV and AIDS.
The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is: “We are in this together: Cheka Impilo”. This is an earnest call to all South Africans to make responsible health choices.
Said MMC Mgcina: “Knowing one's HIV status will assist in the management of the disease if one is HIV positive. A person can get treatment and live a long and healthy life. Also, if one is HIV positive, one should take care not to transmit the virus to others, by adhering to their medication in order to stay virally suppressed.”
She added that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic created serious challenges for governments globally and that restricted movements due to Covid-19 had a negative impact on the provision of and access to HIV and TB testing and treatment services. Covid-19 also caused a decrease in numbers of persons seeking health care at clinics with an increased number of persons who are lost to follow-up, said MMC Mgcina.
Furthermore, she said that key populations who are particularly vulnerable to HIV such as lesbians, gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who inject drugs; the LGBTQI+ community, persons living with HIV and the youth lacked adequate access to services as venues became inaccessible, lockdown regulations made it difficult to meet and the fear of contracting Covid-19.
This has led to the City’s Health Department’s decision to host a series of webinars to engage with the community in order to develop a greater understanding of barriers to accessing health services, stigma, how it can improve its services to key and vulnerable populations. It will also use the opportunity to share information about health services and wellness.
The first webinar was held on 17 November during which members from the LGBTQI+ community engaged on their experiences to accessing essential health services. These include prejudices, stigma and discrimination, and lack of understanding and insight into their health needs among health professionals.
Tomorrow’s virtual engagement will be with people living with chronic diseases such as HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, Epilepsy and Asthma who have interrupted their treatment during Covid-19, before or after and call on them to return to care.
MMC Mgcina said that the City wished to welcome back people who want to return to care, and those who have heeded the Dablap medicine campaign which aims to improve access to health services by encouraging those who are who are stable on treatment for Chronic Diseases to collect their medication at the currently 379 registered External Medicine Pick-up-Points in Johannesburg which are located within corporate pharmacies, post offices, and other registered pick-up-points.
Persons enrolled in this programme only need to visit the health care facility bi-annually for their 6 monthly routine clinical and annual blood screening visits.
On 27 November; there will be an engagement with the youth sector to discuss the risk of substance abuse and becoming infected with HIV.
There will be an opportunity to encourage those who engage risky sexual activities to access Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication from the Health services in Johannesburg.
All webinar session will include a questions and answers sessions. Persons wanting to join the Webinars or wanting to know more about the WAD campaign can contact their local Health Departments or e-mail to jac@joburg.org.za
Regional Blitzes will be conducted in all the City’s Regions. The Health Department will provide “Checka Impilo” services such as HIV Testing Services (HTS), Blood pressure, TB, Diabetes and Covid-19 screening at the selected venues. Regional blitzes to be provided parallel to the Webinar Sessions.
The venues for Regional Blitzes are as follows:
| City of Joburg Regional WAD 2020 Buildup Activities | | |
| REG | DATES | REGIONAL HOT SPOT
(Cheka Impilo Campaign) |
| A | 24-Nov-20 | Ward 92, Big tree along Torpedo street |
| A | 27-Nov-20 | Ward 80, Kanana informal settlement, K60 Football ground |
| B | 24-Nov-20 | Pennyville Park Rietbok Street, Pennyville (Ward 68) |
| B | 27-Nov-20 | Windsor East Food Zone, 26 Beatrice Street, Randburg (Ward 98) |
| C | 24-Nov-20 | Fleurhof Recreation Centre, Malacite Avenue, Fleurhof |
| C | 27-Nov-20 | Bambayi informal settlement, 385 Thulani Road, Block 4 Thulani Dlamini (Ward 129) |
| D | 24-Nov-20 | Homemakers White City, Crutze Street, opposite Jabavu East Primary School |
| D | 27-Nov-20 | Ipelegeng Community Centre, Cnr Cross road and Phera Street, White City |
| E | 24-Nov-20 | Alex San Kopano, Ward 107, Cnr 12th and Rev Sam Buti Street, Alexandra |
| E | 27-Nov-20 | Setshwetla Informal Settlement. Ward 109 (Next to Greenvillage)
|
| F | 24-Nov-20 | Booysens Informal Settlement, Eloff Extension and 9 Smollen Street, Booysens |
| F | 27-Nov-20 | Jumpers, 25 Cleveland Road, Johannesburg, 2094 |
| G | 24-Nov-20 | Protea South Sports Ground, 3877 Union Street, Protea South (Open space/ground) |
| G | 27-Nov-20 | Mountain City Open Ground 2357 Grace Street, Weilers Farm
|
Issued by the City of Joburg’s MMC for Health and Social Development, Cllr Eunice Mgcina.
For more information contact:
Rich Hlatshwayo
Media Liaison Specialist: Mayoral Communications
Tel: 083 702 7394
ThembaH@joburg.org.za
Or
Lulama Luti
Deputy Director: Communications and Stakeholder Management
Tel: 083 702 4551
Email: LulamaLu@joburg.org.za
