Gauteng MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu, today held a meeting with members of mayoral committee responsible for health, social development and emergency medical care to discuss plans to improve services delivery in the province.
The provincial health council meeting discussed the readiness of the province to implement the new HIV and AIDS treatment protocol in April this year.
The new protocol requires that antiretroviral treatment should be provided to all patients co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV if their CD4 count is 350 or less. Treatment should also be provided to pregnant women with the CD4 of 350 or less, or those with AIDS defining symptoms regardless of CD4 count.
The province will also undertake a massive safe sex campaign to prevent HIV and AIDS. Soccer stars and the South African Professional Football Union will be approached to form part of the education drive to reach as many as people as possible during the world cup and beyond.
The entertainment industry will also be targeted with closer focus on bars, clubs, hotels, brothels, fan parks as well as park and ride facilities. The abuse of alcohol and drugs is a contributor to unsafe sex practices and the province will undertake a campaign to highlight this issue.
The meeting noted the province’s readiness of health facilities and emergency services for 2010 FIFA World Cup. Scanners have been installed at airports and the province has established a response team to deal with the outbreak of disease such as avian flu, swine flu (H1N1) and others.
Enquiries:
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 082 773 9013
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
9 February 2010
