Over 414 000 people in the North West province tested for HIV by 14 November since the launch of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign on April 30, 2010 while 405 650 was screened for TB. A total of 72,279 has tested HIV positive with 42, 262 people being referred for relevant treatment.
The province aims to test one million people out of population of at least 3.2 million by the end of campaign next June.
The newly appointed MEC for Health in the province, Dr. Magome Masike has called on people of the province to prevent new HIV infections during World AIDS Day commemoration in Boitekong, a mining community near Rustenburg. Prevention is better than cure, he said “This will reduce the number of people seeking medical treatment. Let’s see more sectors get involved.
We can all conquer and win.
“We really need to revisit our approach and ensure that we encourage preventive activities. We cannot sustain a department let alone the country health system through curative approaches” he said.
MEC Masike also called upon all people who have tested negative to come out and tell us what is it that they did to remain negative. He said it is also important for them to give us their route map of how they are going to remain negative and help us to curb the spread of new infections.
He emphasised the need to build strong community based support systems for those who are living with the virus.
“They need us and we all need each other. We need to move away from blame to care, we need to move away from being scared communities, we need to support each other and stop talking fatal language and being judgmental. Our approach need to be rights based and ensure that the rights of all citizens are respected.
“Let us go out in numbers to do our test. This could be today at the testing stations or at your nearest health facility. Remember, it’s your right to know your HIV status, it is also your responsibility to lead a healthy life and this can be achieved through your active participation in the fight against HIV.
‘We all have rights as much as we all have responsibilities. It is not only the responsibility of the department to protect your rights but it is also your responsibility to protect the rights of others. HIV calls for “Shared rights shared responsibilities” MEC Masike said.
Themed 'We are responsible', the World AIDS Day 2010 addresses the collective responsibility of all South Africans to influence and support partners, family and community members to voluntary test for HIV and set an example by leading healthier lifestyles.
It also addresses the collective responsibility for the world to start contributing towards a common HIV response.
