MBOMBELA – With Mbombela municipality being the growth point of the province, the influx of people is overwhelming and contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
This was stated by the municipality’s executive mayor, Cllr Sibusisi Mathonsi during the launch of Mbombela Local Aids Council(MLAC) on Tuesday morning.
Mathonsi said that MLAC which consists of 38 stakeholders will be conducting campaigns that will educate people, especially in the informal settlements about ways of preventing the spread of HIV.
“With the help of all our stakeholders, we are going to touch every corner of the municipality through educational programmes with our area of focus being farms and other informal settlements,” Mathonsi explained.-
Reading the pledge that was signed by all stakeholders, the mayor outlined the strategies of the council with the following objectives,-
*Addressing social and structural barriers to HIV, STIs and TB prevention, care and impact,-
* Preventing new HIV,STI and TB infections,-
*Sustaining health and wellness of citizens and-
* Increasing the protection of human rights and improving access to justice.-
“The epidemic has become one of the make-or-break social, economic, development and humanitarian crisis and no longer solely public health problem hence we are coming up with the council,” added Mathonsi.
Stakeholders welcomed the launch of the council and pledged to join forces and work together with the municipality in this endeavour to wage war against the pandemic.
“We are fully behind this initiative and are prepared to be part of the campaigns that will help and fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and we urge citizens to participate as we all ensure on achieving an HIV free generation,” said Mr Sibusiso Makhathini who signed the pledge on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans gender community.
