The Premier of the Northern Cape, Mrs. S Lucas, invites members of the media to the World AIDS Day commemoration on the 1 December 2014.
World AIDS Day is held on 01 December each year and commemorated worldwide. It provides the opportunity for people to show their support for people living with HIV/AIDS and to remember people who have died from AIDS related causes. World AIDS day was first commemorated in December 1988.
The AIDS 2014 Melbourne declaration called for the eradication of discrimination against people living with or at risk of HIV. The declaration affirms that non – discrimination is fundamental to evidence based response to HIV and effective public health programme.
For this reason the 2014 World AIDS Day will be commemorated under the theme “Zero Stigma and Discrimination”
As part of intensifying the fight against stigma and discrimination, the Provincial Council on AIDS, and the Northern Cape Provincial Government embarked on an aggressive campaign aimed at Re-launching the HIV testing and counselling (HCT) in all five districts across the province, so as to reach a provincial target of testing 221 674 people between April 2014 and March 2015.
Addressing stigma and discrimination is an exceedingly important aspect of mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS. Stigma and Discrimination is not only harmful for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, but also leads to undesirable health behaviours that might aid the spread of HIV/AIDS. The marginalization of people who are at high risk of infection especially men having sex with man, sex workers, transgender people and people using drugs drives them away from treatment.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: 01 December 2014
Venue: Batlharo’s Stadium in John Taolo Gaetsewe District
Time: 09H00
The Premier will be joined by Members of the Executive Council, MPL’s, Representatives from NGO’s and CBO’s, Chapter 9 Institutions and Senior Public servants.
Members of the media that will be attending the event must confirm their attendance with:
Mr. Lebogang Majaha at 071 883 6404 0r This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ms. Bronwyn Thomas- Abrahams 083 447 6586 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Issued by the Northern Cape Provincial Government