Health and HIV/Aids organisations, the Joburg City Council and the Gauteng Department of Health, descended on Alex with anti-HIV/Aids messages, and also provided health-related services to the residents in anticipation of World Aids Day on 1 December.
The event, held at the Alex Plaza, was also part of the promotion of the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children, which is commemorated from 25 November to 10 December.
Hundreds of residents received advice, were tested and counselled on Aids and other ailments impacting the community.
The occasion also doubled as the official opening of a special men’s advisory, counselling and treatment facility by NPO Anova under the sponsorship of USAID.
The facility, with the theme Score 4Life, targets men aged between 21 and 50, opened its doors in July and has already advised, tested and counselled 6 000 men on HIV/Aids.
“The facility’s selective approach encourages men whose fear of stigma, secretiveness and desire for confidentiality discourages them from getting tested at public facilities. This, at a time when research shows they are the primary cause of the high infection rate and teenage pregnancies among girls, compared to younger boys, who test freely anywhere,” said Diana Mokoena of Anova.
Mokoena said of those who arrived and were tested, some were found to be HIV positive, they were counselled and linked to support agencies and individuals to provide and encourage them to adhere to treatment to safeguard themselves, their spouses and girlfriends.
Tanya Roberts, also of Anova, said the facility was an innovative and convenient way to reach men who were often at work before public facilities opened and back home after they closed.
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“It’s open for them on weekends and has no long waiting queues. They can mingle freely without worrying about any prying eyes, which makes them not want to go to clinics,” she said.
Her colleague Makati Mema, said they hoped to test more men as more got to know about the facility. “This will help them to take ownership of their health, while spending time with friends as they wait their turn. We hope it will help to change their attitude against testing as, when they do, they will score for life when they know and maintain their healthy status.”
The event was also complemented with a dialogue session as a springboard for the participants to get talking about HIV/Aids, their health status, attend testing and encourage others to do the same. This is part of World Aids Day’s objective to eradicate HIV/Aids and ensure 90 per cent of the population will have been tested and know their status by 2020.
Details: Diana Mokoena 076 870 3759.
