Basics are fundamental to HIV/Aids fight

30 November 2016

The City of Cape Town’s Health Directorate will host a series of outreach sessions tomorrow and throughout the week in support of World Aids Day, which falls on 1 December.

City Health and its partners have made tremendous strides in managing HIV. Some of these interventions include the following:

Increasing the number of people who test for HIV, but also ensuring that those who do test positive are started on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) timeously
Medical interventions (i.e. being on ART with a suppressed viral load) which makes it safe and therefore desirable for HIV-positive mothers to breastfeed, resulting in healthier babies (transmission of HIV to the baby is prevented)
In the last financial year (June 2015 – July 2016), City Health started 12 954 new clients on ART, against a target of 8 540
HIV tests have become routine for new tuberculosis (TB) patients, which allows for early diagnosis and treatment of dual infections (HIV underlying TB). TB does occur in people who are not HIV-positive, but TB is a common opportunistic infection in patients who are HIV-positive
In its 2015/16 financial year, City Health and its partners distributed over 68 million male condoms
There has also been an increase in the number of female condoms distributed

One particular area of concern continues to be young women aged 15 – 24 who, according to statistics released earlier this year, have the highest HIV infection rate in the country.

‘We have managed to slow the rate of HIV infection through education, awareness and ensuring access to protection from sexually transmitted infections. These seem like very basic interventions, but they have proved successful and so we continue our outreach campaigns. We want people to get tested, know their status and take advantage of the treatment on offer should they test positive. I also want to remind the public to test not just once, but on a regular basis – particularly if they are sexually active or have more than one partner. Sexual fidelity is ideal, but we cannot be naïve about these things.

‘There exists a reality that requires us to speak openly about sex and sexually transmitted infections. We owe it to ourselves and especially our young people – many of whom are growing up with misperceptions because it is culturally taboo or their parents are not inclined to talk about sex. Bring your child to the clinic for advice if you aren’t able or willing to talk to them about these things. Our staff are on hand to help,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli.

Below is a list of areas where City Health will be conducting outreach activities on World Aids Day, 1 December 2016, including offering HIV counselling and testing, tuberculosis testing, condom distribution, awareness talks, distribution of information pamphlets, entertaining activities, and other health services. For more details, including events on 2 and 3 December 2016, residents should please visit the City’s website: www.capetown.gov.za

Sub-district	Venues	Sub-district	Venues
Eastern	Shoprite Centre – Somerset West Helderberg Village Shoprite Centre – Broadlands Park Vrygrond - Kalkfontein	Northern	Harmonie Clinic PnP Hypermarket – Brackenfell Bloekombos Clinic Wallacedene Clinic Scottsdene Clinic Northpine Clinic
Klipfontein	Salvation Army – Lansdowne Gugulethu Square	Southern	Masiphumelele Clinic Ocean View Clinic Parkwood Clinic Philippi Clinic Seawinds Clinic Hout Bay Main Road Clinic Fisher Haven/Grassy Park Library NSFAS Wynberg
Khayelitsha	O.R. Tambo Hall Mathew Goniwe CDC Makhaza Mall Esgingqini	Tygerberg	Shoprite – Clarke Estate Francor Bakery Consol Glass – Bellville Eskom – Bellville CTP Parow Valley Bellville Men’s Clinic
Mitchells Plain	Town Centre Square – Eastridge Winners Supermarket – Lentegeur Tafelsig Community Day Centre	Western	Mandela Square,Atlantis

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