SDM convene District AIDS Council meeting
Groblersdal
The Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) Council has on Wednesday 23 January, convened its first District AIDS Council meeting in Groblersdal Council Chambers, held in accordance with the Limpopo Provincial AIDS Council Policy Framework for 2021, focused amongst others, on reviewing the Quarter 3 performance report regarding HIV, TB and STIs.
The Limpopo Provincial Government, under the leadership of Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, have recently convened a Special Limpopo Provincial AIDS Council, to pave a way for regional AIDS Council meetings that were unleashed in all five districts in the province.
The virtual gathering brought together key stakeholders from various sectors to discuss and advance the province’s efforts in combating HIV/AIDS, TB, STIs, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Human Rights Violations, inequalities, and mental health.
The SDM Aids Council meeting in Groblersdal was also assessing the functionality status of both Local AIDS Councils and Ward AIDS Committees, with the Department of Health, presenting the HIV and TB performance report.
During the gathering, a resolution was also made to organize a capacity-building workshop for District AIDS Council members promptly.
The meeting also deliberated on the Limpopo Provincial AIDS Council resolution regarding the urgent establishment of separate AIDS Councils Secretariat Units, distinct from Special Programmes Divisions, to enhance effective coordination.
Furthermore, the meeting agreed to convene a District AIDS summit as a proactive measure to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
In an effort to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS, SDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Minah Bahula, initiated engagement with key stakeholders such as sex workers community and men having sex with men through their respective organizations, namely Humana People to People as well as the Makhuduthamaga Umbrella, to solicit an understanding of their programs and challenges they are confronted with.
The executive mayor, who chairs the council, in her remarks called on the meeting to “share in the vision of South Africa that has overcome challenges of TB and HIV/AIDS, importantly, a generation that share in the vision that all enjoy good health and a long life”.
