Limpopo - More than 6 000 site workers of Eskom's currently built Medupi power station are scheduled to undergo HIV tests on construction site during the health department's three day HIV Testing and Counselling (HCT) campaign.
This comes after the official extension of the HCT campaign to the corporate industry by Deputy President Kgalema Mothlanthe and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as they adressed more than 6 000 site workers within the power station's construction site today, 1st of March.
The three day testing campaign - from 1 - 3 March 2011 - is a partnership between the Department of Health, construction giant Murray and Roberts and power utility Eskom.
The campaign that seeks target of getting 15 million South Africans to know their HIV status was launched in May last year by South Africa's President Mr Jacob Zuma.
Since his appointment, health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has placed a huge emphasis on prevention as part of responding to the HIV and AIDS challenge in our country.
The multi-prone testing campaign is also being rolled out at 17 universities. The next phase of the campaign will include testing workers on farms, mines and in industrial areas.
Adressing more than 6000 site workers at Medupi power station, Minister Motsoaledi said he was impressed about the positive step taken by leaders from respective institutions of themselves taking a lead by testing for HIV whilst encouraging their employees to test.
His sentiments were informed by the respective pronouncements of chief executives from eskom and Murray and Roberts that they have personally tested for HIV and they periodically receive progress reports on the testing rate for their employees.
Deputy President Motlanthe who is also the co-chairperson of the South African National Aids Counsel (SANAC) - an entity advising the health department on strategic interventions for HIV and AIDS - stressed the need for workers to test and commended the campaign's mileage.
"Over 8 million people have received counselling and more than 7 million went on to take the HIV test. If it were not for this campaign millions of South Africans would probably not have known their status. These figures show that people are interested to know their status provided that services are provided in a way that is non-threatening and convenient", he said.
Speaking at the event Bernard Galane who is living with HIV and taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) encouraged site workers to make a decision of constantly testing for HIV. "...I almost died because of refusing to test whilst being hospitalized and couldn't even lift up a loaf of bread after drastically losing weight. But after I eventually subjected myself to the HIV treatment my health regained and my life has been prolonged", he said.
Joining the Minister and the Deputy President's address were the Minister of Public Entreprises, Mr Malusi Gigaba, Eskom's Chief Executive Mr Brain Dames, Eskom Board Chairman Mr Mpho Makwana, Limpopo MEC for Health and Social Development Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, Murray and Roberts executives and other senior representatives from Limpopo provincial government.
For more information please contact:
Mr Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 395 8493
Cell: 079 517 3333 or
Mr Vukani Mnyandu
Tel: 012 395 8475
Cell: 083 923 0261
