Sunday 15 May 2011, people worldwide will light a candle on occasion of the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Candlelight memorial is used to: remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS; to support those living with HIV and affected by its impact, and to encourage calls to action for greater awareness.
With the theme “Touching lives”; the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, calls on the people of KwaZulu-Natal to highlight how HIV has touched the lives of many people. “Touching lives” also refers to how an improved HIV response with improved treatment access, better prevention methods and respect for dignity touches the lives of people living with and affected by HIV.
Today the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, will commemorate this day with students and academics from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) at the Durban Campuses Cane Growers Hall (opposite Carries Fountain Stadium) at 12h00.
“The candlelight memorial must be a time where we all dedicate our concerted efforts to ensuring that we use every means possible to prevent another person from getting infected,” says MEC Dhlomo. “Every male infant must be circumcised immediately after birth. Let the faith community appeal to the conscience of adult men (and women) to be responsible role models to young boys and girls alike. And getting an HIV test must be part of our lives and not be seen as an added burden. It is a duty that we owe to future generations.”
There is evident increase in access to HIV treatment which is working to slow down the HIV epidemic. HIV treatment keeps people living with HIV healthy, more productive and lowers the risk of transmitting HIV to others.
The Department of Health has also recorded great achievements in scaling up prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programme which aims to ensure that babies born to HIV positive mothers are born without the virus.
The department has also intensified prevention programme with a notable introduction and promotion of male medical circumcision as part of the prevention strategies. Currently more than 27 000 men and boys have been circumcised since the launch of the campaign in April 2010. On the other front; following the announcement by the President for all citizens to know their status; more than 1,6 million people have been counseled and tested for HIV in the province.
This year, says MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the department wishes people to remember how HIV has touched the lives of so many people; and how solidarity and decisive leadership can have a positive impact on the lives of people living with and affected by HIV.
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
Oziel Mdletshe
Cell: 074 452 1205
