Category Archives: World Aids Day

SA marks Aids day with record ribbon!

South Africa has unveiled a 1.5km Aids ribbon in Johannesburg, with activists and officials pledging to curb the epidemic. (Duncan Alfreds, News24)

Johannesburg – South Africa, home to the world’s largest HIV caseload, on Saturday unveiled a 1.5km Aids ribbon in Johannesburg, with activists and officials pledging to curb the epidemic.

Created from over 6 000 red T-shirts pinned together, the ribbon was rolled out at Constitution Hill, which houses the Constitutional Court, and unfurled through the streets of Braamfontein.

The ribbon, beating a record previously held by India, is seen as a “visual symbol of the country’s commitment to eradicating HIV/Aids” in a country where six of the 51.8 million inhabitants live with the virus.

“Because of this event we are going to get more awareness,” said one of the organisers, Amanda Blankfield of Afrika Tikkun, a health and education NGO.

Organisers of the Aids ribbon event will submit aerial photographs to the Guinness World Records for verification.

Stigma

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said SA was on the right path.

“I can confidently say that the journey toward an Aids-free world has begun, and South Africa is definitely on the right path,” he said in a speech marking World Aids Day in Potchefstroom.

Despite being home to the world’s largest population of people living with HIV and its biggest consumer of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, about a fifth of the world market, SA is still battling with stigma around the disease.

“The murder of gay men and lesbians, acts of violence such as so-called ‘corrective rapes’ are a violation of the rights of others and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Motlanthe said.

On Thursday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced SA had used its massive market share to negotiate a record-low price on a three-in-one, fixed-dose combination drug, to be rolled out in April 2013.

The once-a-day tablet will cost patients R89.37 rand a month, the world’s lowest ever for the regimen.

The government plans to expand the treatment to reach 2.5 million people in the next two years.

SA once refused to roll out ARVs under former president Thabo Mbeki, whom activists have condemned as an “Aids denialist”.

By AFP

01 December 2012

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/AidsFocus/SA-marks-Aids-day-with-record-ribbon-20121201

South Africa: World Aids Day Targets Men, Youth

Pretoria — This year’s World AIDS Day will focus on urging young people and men to get tested so they know their HIV status.

The national event, which will take place at Potchefstroom in North West on Saturday, will be held under the theme ‘A re Dlale – Safe for Zero new HIV and TB infections’.

“We are trying to appeal to young people by making use of this theme that combines tsotsi taal, African Languages and English, because we really want our young people to play very safe for zero new infections,” Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said on Thursday.

The global theme for World AIDS Day which was announced last year and will run till 2015, comprises of three messages, ‘Zero New HIV infection, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths’. Dr Motsoaledi noted that South Africa has subscribed to the global World AIDS Day target of getting to Zero by 2015.

He said that through the new National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB that runs from 2012 to 2016, government is hoping that every South African, including the youth, will develop a tendency to test at least once per annum.

During this year’s World AIDS Day, Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe will be joined by Motsoaledi and the Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula, as the event aims to target sports.

He said they were concerned about older men and wanted to encourage them to get tested, therefore this year’s main event will be celebrated through soccer.

Dr Motsoaledi added that from this year onwards, they will be running soccer matches in their campaigns and hoping that through soccer, men will be encouraged to go and get tested.

“We want to target Confederation of African Football (CAF) and we are happy that CAF, together with UNAIDS have agreed to work together to make sure that next year when the Afcon is in South Africa. One of the many events you’ll see is the issue of HIV and AIDS. All soccer stars of the world will be supporting us,” Dr Motsoaledi said.

In terms of people getting tested and wanting to know their status, he said 65% of them were women, 5% children and only 35% were men.

South African National Aids Council Chief Operations Officer, Reverend Zwo Nevhutalu stressed that this year’s World AIDS Day would be about prevention.

“If we don’t put more effort on prevention, we might not be able to win the battle of HIV and AIDS,” the minister said.

The campaigns will include testing to be done in malls, more activations messages in store fitting room, messages to cell phones, mobi sites and advertisements on buses.

The event on Saturday will kick off with a 4km walk followed by testing with the main event to be followed by a soccer match.

Reverend Nevhutalu also thanked the Premier Soccer League for allowing them to use the Telkom challenge which takes place in Durban, to send messages.

“Thousands of condoms would be distributed on the day and the testing sites will be stationed at the parameters of the stadium.”

Government has exceeded the target of testing 15 million to 20 million people for HIV since the launch of the HIV, Counselling and Testing Campaign in April 2010.

In South Africa, over 1.9 million people are on treatment through government increasing the number of HIV treatment sites.

“In Feb 2010, there were only 490 testing sites. Today we now have 3000 facilities, which are well equipped in initiating HIV treatment. We have also increased the number of nurses who are certified and trained to initiate HIV treatment from 215 in February 2010 to 10 000 in April 2012.

“We have also reduced the rate of Mother To Child Transmission, from 8% in 2008 to 3.5% in 2010 and down to 2.7% in 2011. Our Medical Male Circumcision Programme is also doing very well,” Motsoaledi highlighted.

By Gabi Khumalo

30 November 2012

http://www.sanews.gov.za/news/12/12113009251001

Mashatile to participate in World AIDS Day Yarn Bombing!

Pretoria – Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile will mark World Aids Day, by joining in the Yarn Bombing of a tree at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre, outside Durban.

Yarn Bombing is the latest global trend in public visual art such as crochet or knit graffiti.

“This unusual Visual Arts project, aims to raise awareness around HIV and AIDS in a fun, playful manner. It will also create employment for those infected and affected by the disease, specifically the community within the Valley of 1000 Hills,” said Mashatile.

The plan is to wrap the tree at the entrance to the Hillcrest Aids Centre in crocheted squares made by the Centre’s crafters.

“The squares will be sewn together around the trunk and branches; it is going to be bright and cheerful,” added Paula Thomson of the Hillcrest Aids Centre.

The Yarn Bombing, which is supported by the Department of Arts and Culture, the Hillcrest Aids Centre and local residents, has resulted in over R170 000.00 being put back into the community.

At least 140 crafters have been taught to crochet as well as 130 school children from five different schools. Local religious bodies, old age homes and businesses are also contributing crocheted squares.

“We are supporting this initiative because we too believe the creative economy can be at the centre of our endeavours, to grow the economy, create jobs and build sustainable livelihoods. The work being done by the Hillcrest Aids Centre and the surrounding community is a great example of how using Arts and Crafts can empower and up-skill even the most marginalised amongst us,” said Mashatile.

The Department of Arts and Culture through the Mzansi Golden Economy Strategy has identified key policy interventions that will further support the national growth and development of the creative economy.

This project also highlights the real achievements that can be made in the lives of our people, if we, the public and the private sector work together, he added.

The Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust (HACT) is a faith based, non-profit organisation that supports and empowers people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Woza Moya is the income generation faculty of HACT. Woza Moya proactively equips people through training and job creation to be self-sufficient. Some of its well-known “Dreams for Africa projects” are the ‘Dreams for Africa Chair’, “the Green Suit”, “the Little Traveller” and the 4m long beaded “African love letter”.

The Hillcrest Aids Centre will also be holding a community involvement week from the 26th – 30th November, where the public are invited to help yarn bomb and learn how to crochet.

The Centre hopes to undertake its largest HIV and AIDS testing drive this month and the public have been encouraged to pop in and get tested.

“We have brought an international concept to South Africa and are the first to do it on such a grand scale.

“We are hopeful this will be the largest Yarn Bombed tree in South Africa, if not in Africa,” Thomson optimistically said.

The Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust (HACT) is a faith based, non-profit organisation that supports and empowers people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

The public is invited to join this year’s World AIDS Day celebration on 1December 2012, under the beautifully Yarn Bombed Tree at 26 Old Main road, Hillcrest.

There will be entertainment, crafts, a kiddie’s area, a yarn exhibition ‘All things Yarn’, a tea garden and food stalls. It will be a fun-filled day all in support of the community.

For more information please visit: www.hillaids.org.za – SAnews.gov.za

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System of South Africa

28 November 2012

http://www.sanews.gov.za/news/12/12112809151002