The Free State Department of Education is embarking on HIV and AIDS campaign to test and counsel its employees in five district of the province.
The campaign will start in Motheo District and other district will follow between April and June 2011. The HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) campaign was launched on 28 April 2010 by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma and is being led by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. The campaign encourages all South Africans to test and know their HIV status.
About 6 000 employees are expected to test.
The objectives of the campaign are:
- To mobilise people to know their HIV status
- To support people with key prevention interventions in order to take proactive steps to a healthy lifestyle - irrespective of their HIV status
- To increase the incidence of health-seeking behaviour,
- To increase access to treatment, care and support services.
The benefits of knowing one’s HIV status are:
- Knowing one’s HIV status can encourage people to change their behaviour that would put themselves and others at risk.
- Immune system monitoring and early treatment can greatly improve long-term health.
- Women and their partners considering pregnancy can take advantage of treatments that potentially prevent transmission of HIV to the baby.
- A person may feel less anxious if the test result show negative.
- One can access care and support including treatment to prevent illnesses that commonly occur with HIV.
- Recommended lifestyle changes can be encouraged, including healthy diet, exercise, emotional, family support and spiritual care.
Enquiries:
Howard Ndaba
Cell: 079 503 5485
Source: Free State Education
Province
