This document contains news of important events, initiatives and partnerships taking place in the build-up to World AIDS Day 2005.
Khomanani, government’s HIV, AIDS, STIs & TB Communications and Social Mobilisation Campaign will issue similar updates on a regular basis as we count down to 1 December.
National and Provincial Activities
1 December, Durban: Kwa-Zulu Natal will host the national World AIDS Day event at the King’s Park Stadium, from 10h00 until 15h00 on Thursday 1 December 2005. A joint team is making good progress with preparations, which include community mobilisation, entertainment, security, transport, feeding and media communications. Closer to the time, media will be advised of a pre-event media briefing.
Build-up activities in the province include:
29 November, Durban: The formation of a human chain as a display of solidarity in the face of HIV and AIDS. Thousands of health workers, health activists, community workers and members of the public will join hands to form a human chain from the Durban Town Hall to Kings Park Stadium. Media are welcome to cover this initiative and will be advised of details closer to the day.
18 November, Durban: Media are invited to a stakeholder breakfast to launch a condom distribution private-public partnership programme, between government, Cleaning Industry Bargaining Council (BCCI), a number of private institutions and the South African Business Coalition on HIV & AIDS (SABCOHA). The project is an important HIV prevention outreach that will expand the distribution of the government’s choice™ condom within popular public places, including the Durban Airport, the Durban Institute of Technology and the Sun Coast Casino.
Other provincial plans include:
Free State: The provincial and community stakeholders will hold a World AIDS Day commemorative event from 08h30 until 13h00 on 1 December in the district of Fezile Dabi in Vredefort (10 km from Parys, 85 km from Kroonstad), with a programme that will consists of speeches, cultural items and community initiatives.
North West: The province has started its World AIDS Day build-up mobilisation on 11 November, in the Bojanala district. This will be followed with events at the Matlosane Stadium, Jouberton (Southern district) on 23 November and in the Dinokana Village, Zeerust (Central district) on 26 November. The main provincial event will happen at the Vryburg Agricultural Showgrounds, Vryburg (Bophirima district) on 1 December.
Gauteng: Joburg City is launching its World AIDS Day 2005 campaign at Ubuntu Kraal on 23 November. For additional information, contact Nomsa Nkosi on 011 407 6822. This will followed with a radio media campaign broadcast on Jozi FM, Lesidi FM, Kaya FM and YFM and extensive community outreach activities.
These and similar events will enable their constituents to participate in the national campaign and to widen the influence of the initiative in their own provinces.
Khomanani Pledge Campaign
The Khomanani Pledge Campaign was launched on 9 October 2005 to mobilise South Africans to protect themselves and others from HIV, AIDS, STIs & TB. Nearly 200,000 individuals, politicians, celebrities and sports and entertainment stars have made a public promise of action to care, talk, test and practice safer sex.
New pledges
Kaizer Chiefs players made individual pledges and are planning visits to children in need. Media will receive a separate briefing document relating to this activity.
Almost 3,000 cricket fans pledged to take action by completing pledge forms at the 4th and 5th ODI matches between South Africa and New Zealand recently.
Public and Private Sector Partnerships
Durban International Airport is dedicating the week preceding World AIDS Day to generating awareness about HIV and AIDS among some 10 000 people who pass through the airport every day. Activities include: ACSA peer educators interacting with the public and encouraging participation in the Khomanani pledge campaign and the display of a massive AIDS ribbon in the arrivals hall.
22 November, 08h30, Rosebank Hotel, Johannesburg: SASOL and SABCOHA (SA Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS) invite you to a media briefing to share the experience of the Sasol HIV/AIDS Response Programme (SHARP), which implements a multidisciplinary approach to workplace education and individual behaviour change.
29 November, 08h00, Edward Hotel, Port Elizabeth: SABCOHA and several partners, including VW, Goodyear, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Nelson Mandela Metro invite media to a breakfast briefing on the provincial partnerships to address HIV and AIDS. VW will be handing over a car it is donating to the Nelson Mandela Metro Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.
Media Partnerships
The generosity and support received from the media during the build-up to World AIDS Day is a massive boost to the awareness efforts.
For more details on these activities, please contact:
Tebogo Matlou 083 435 0957 / tebogom@meropa.co.za
Priya Maharaj 082 921 6442 / priyam@meropa.co.za
Claire Taylor 011 772 1000 / clairet@meropa.co.za
www.aidsinfo.co.za
General HIV, AIDS, TB & STIs information:
Call the 24-hour confidential tollfree AIDS Helpline 0800 012 322