Tomorrow, Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu will visit residents of Kwesine hostel in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni as part of the national HIV counselling and testing campaign.
In addition to encouraging the residents to know their health status, MEC Mahlangu who will be accompanied by MMC for Health in Ekurhuleni, Makhosazane Maluleke and other political leaders in the area will assess health and social needs of the residents and intervene where possible.
The leaders as well as officials will also educate the community about government services available to them and how they can access them.
Since the Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi launched HCT campaign in April, more 700 000 people tested for HIV in Gauteng’s public health facilities.
Following the launch, all public health facilities in the province provide a free walk-in service for health screening and HCT.
In an effort to further increase the number of people in the province who know their health status and to reach the provinces target of 3.3 million people by June 2011, Gauteng has employed the use of mobile HCT services which visit shopping malls, informal settlements, taxi ranks, community gatherings as well as rural parts of the province where health facilities are not easily accessible.
In association with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other community organisations, the department also takes advantage of any opportunity to encourage people especially the youth to lead healthy lifestyles and know their status.
The purpose of the campaign is to diagnose HIV, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes and high blood pressure at an early stage in order to get people onto treatment in time. Early treatment reduces unnecessary deaths especially from TB and AIDS.
To improve the lives of Gauteng citizens, the department has increased the number of antiretroviral (ARV) sites. So far the life saving treatment has been available in all hospitals, community health centres and most clinics.
Currently, more than 303 000 (including 22 830 children) patients are currently on treatment in the province. More than one million patients have been assessed and will gradually be brought into the treatment programme when they reach treatment requirements.
Details of the visit are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 9 October 2010
Time: 12h00
Venue: Kwesine hostel, Thokoza, Ekurhuleni
Enquiries:
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 082 773 9013
MEC Mahlangu takes HIV counselling and testing (HCT) campaign to hostel
Province
