Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will on Sunday, 25 April preside over the official launch of the country's HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg.
The campaign forms part of government's new measures in the fight against HIV and AIDS and were announced during the World Aids Day commemoration in Tshwane in December last year. The launch of the HCT campaign forms of a package of interventions which include among others:
* All children under one year of age getting treatment if they are HIV positive
* All patients with both TB and HIV getting treatment if their CD4 count is 350 or less
As part of the Department's comprehensive approach to healthcare and primary healthcare in particular, the HCT campaign will also allow people to be screened for hypertension, blood sugar levels, haemoglobin, TB and Pap smear.
This is in line with the Department of Health's strategy of preventing diseases before their onset.
The launch, scheduled to be attended by senior government representatives and representatives of international bodies is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 25 April 2010
Venue: Natalspruit Hospital, Katlehong (Ekurhuleni)
Time: 07h30 (Formal programme to start at 08h30)
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517 3333
Issued by: Department of Health
22 April 2010
Thandi
