Mayor Merah Mahlase supports HIV/AIDS awareness drive
JANE FURSE – Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality Mayor, Merah Mahlase, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Local AIDS Council, endorsed a door-to-door drive to create awareness on HIV/AIDS, TB and other related chronic diseases on Tuesday, 4 December following her first Local AIDS Council meeting at Kgaola Mafiri municipal building.
Thomas Mashabela, Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality Acting Communications Manager, indicated that the gathering was part of introduction programme for the new mayor to stakeholders following her election as new political head of the institution.
Mashabela informed that the HIV/AIDS door-to-door initiative is envisaged to kick-start this week in the promotion of consciousness and education around the disease.
He highlighted that the campaign is a build-up programme ahead of an upcoming World AIDS Day commemoration expected to take place soon under the theme ‘Let Communities Lead’.
“The Mayor also officially received a report and progress on the launch of ward-based AIDS Committees. The report highlights a sterling work done by the local council. The council managed to launch 30 ward AIDS committees and only one ward is yet to launch,” pointed out Mashabela.
He mentioned that 400 community members from various wards were nominated and they have in return, accepted the call to act as HIV/AIDS champions in the society.
Addressing the Local AIDS Council members, Mayor Mahlase emphasized that as part of controlling and managing the spread of the disease, as local council, they need to involve all communities and organizations to join the movement and take a lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS.