Editors, journalists and, health and education writers are invited to the launch of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision initiative for the Higher Education Sector.
Details:
Date: Thursday, 30 May 2013
Time: 11h30 for 12h00
Venue: Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Main Campus, at the Prestige Auditorium, 1st Floor, Pretoria
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will deliver a keynote address at the Prestige Auditorium of the Tshwane University (TUT) Main Campus. The Minister will invite the journalists to observe a medical male circumcision procedure (MMC) at the Campus Clinic after a media briefing.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mr Mduduzi C. Manana and Gauteng MEC for Health Hope Papo, will be in attendance.
The launch of the Voluntary Medical Male circumcision is a collaboration between the national Department of Health and the institutions of higher learning including universities and colleges, to create awareness among students about the benefits of medical male circumcision (MMC) together with HIV counseling and testing, counseling on safe sexual practices including the use of condoms and reduction of the multiple concurrent sexual partners.
During the launch of the initiative, the students will be offered a package of services including information, condoms, HIV counseling and testing and provided an opportunity to be linked to a local health facility for further assessment and care for other conditions including TB, and if eligible for treatment to be enrolled for care.
The initiative is part of the National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS and TB to mobilise communities including young people at universities and colleges. The goal is that they know their HIV status early, access treatment early, use condoms consistently to prevent new HIV infections and have access to voluntary medical male circumcision (MMC). If they are eligible for treatment for HIV or TB to be linked to local public health facilities for care and support.
Media contact:
Joe Maila
Ministry of Health: Spokesperson
Cell: 082 887 3581
Tel: 012 395 9625
Email: mailaj@health.gov.za
