Issued by Department of Health
5 December 2006
At least 24 bids have been received from agencies that are interested in a multi-million tender to become service providers for the implementation of the Government AIDS communication programme -Khomanani.
The tender was advertised in the Tender Bulletin with a closing date of Friday, December 01, for submission of proposals covering the period from 2006-2009 financial years. All bids will subjected to appropriate selection process and shortlisted bidders may be requested to present to the adjudicating committee before the tender is awarded to winning bidders.
The winning service providers for the Khomanani tender will provided communication support for the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS and the revised Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS for 2007-2011.
The brief for the tender has been expanded to cover all elements of the Comprehensive Plan including healthy lifestyle interventions.
The main objective of the Khomanani campaign is to ensure that the great majority of South Africans who are currently not HIV positive remain HIV negative. The campaign will therefore focus on raising awareness on the risk factors in order to increase personal risk perception as a means towards behaviour change. It also seeks to influence positive social norms and values as well advocate for safe sexual practices.
The campaign will promote health care seeking behaviour and link people to appropriate services. It will mainstream the implementation of the five focus areas of the Healthy Lifestyle Programme which are promotion of regular physical activity, good nutrition and safe sexual behaviour, tobacco control and interventions against alcohol and substance abuse.
The campaign will advocate and educate on good nutrition and empower People Living with HIV and AIDS, their families and care givers on issues relating to nutrition and food choices.
The campaign should improve understanding on how best to utilize the public health system for accessing the continuum of care. It should popularize the availability of treatment of opportunistic infections including strategies for management TB in order to increase early utilization of these services.
It will educate the public about the role of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) including the fact that they are not a cure and should be used in a responsible manner.
Contact:
Sibani Mngadi
0827720161
0r
Charity Bhengu
0836797424