Latest news with #CharlesMphephu
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Region E health tackles the country's HIV treatment gap
Region E faces a significant challenge of getting more than 10 000 HIV positive people on treatment. This has necessitated the launch of numerous initiatives in the region, including Indoda Wednesday Dialogue (IWD), and recently, the health outreach campaign at Kwabhekilanga Sports Ground in Alexandra on June 20. This forms part of the region's attempt to ensure that vital services such as HIV testing and counselling, TB screening, family planning, and health education are brought to the Alexandra community. The IWD, hosted by FAN Champions For Change manager Charles Mphephu, and the health outreach campaign are slightly different in terms of who they are targeting, but they share a similar goal of tackling the scourge of HIV in Region E and preventing its spread. Read more: Efforts to mobilise men against GBV and spread of HIV continue IWD has reached men across the Alexandra community who are least likely to talk about GBV, and HIV treatment openly, and the health campaign aimed to reach both men, women and children who are least likely to set foot in a clinic. 'We expected more youth, but even though we did not see more of them, they did show up. And, we just wanted the community around the area to come, especially children, because we know they are no longer going to school,' a multisectoral coordinator in Region E, Lerato Malemela shared. Malemela, who is also the co-organiser of the health outreach, emphasised its significance, noting that it was a regional contribution to the country's Close The Gap campaign, which seeks to shrink the HIV treatment gap by bringing 1.1 million people into treatment. At the launch of the HIV treatment Gap campaign in Soweto on February 25, health minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that men were behind in taking HIV/Aids treatment, and that the 1.1 million gap was mostly composed of men. Since then, IWD has reached men across Alexandra, and has served as a platform to encourage them to take measures to prevent HIV spread. One of the IWD participants, Stepping Tennis Foundation member, and co-organiser of the outreach campaign, Sibusiso Shongwe, said, 'So, what we have seen at the FAN men's forum is that men are afraid to go to the health facilities. They are scared of queuing at the clinics. But here, there are no queues; they just walk in, receive services, and leave. That is why we decided that we should bring the clinic to them.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Efforts to mobilise men against GBV and spread of HIV continue
Alexandra men are intensifying their mission to mobilise others, giving them a platform to address gender-based violence and the spread of HIV. This follows the inaugural sitting of the Men's Parliament under the theme 'Deepening accountability among men and boys to respond decisively to South African socio-economic challenges', on May 23 at the Constance Connie Bapela Council Chamber in Johannesburg. Read more: GBV Brigades and police meet ahead of major campaign The co-chairperson of the Men's Parliament Charles Mphephu said that ahead of its first sitting, outreach campaigns were conducted in the sub-district. Even after the first sitting of the parliament, he noted that efforts to expand their reach had intensified. 'On May 26, we started at Madala hostel, and we went to Nobuhle hostel to engage with those men. We moved to the Council at Pan next to the Alexandra Magistrates' Court. We were also at the Organic market and Last Gate in Tsutsumane, and we engaged with men,' Mphephu noted. Also read: Alex CPF concerned about GBV victims reluctance to press charges The goal is to help men change their harmful social behaviour, which exacerbates the rate of GBV and the spread of HIV. Speaking during the first sitting of the parliament, the secretary of the City of Johannesburg men's sector Sibusiso Sithole stressed that young men often lacked the support they needed compared to young women. 'We are forgetting that these young women will eventually date at some point. And the person they will be dating is the same person who was in high school with them, standing there in the corner and not receiving any support, not receiving any information around GBV or [HIV] treatment.' In his closing remarks, Mphehu urged men to make sure that every ward in their region supported this men's initiative. 'The vision is to institutionalise a responsive men's movement, and the mission is to call men to action, to stand up and be counted as relevant in building a men's society movement that is robust, accountable and follows the rules of law.' He concluded by the end of December, they planned to reach 3 500 men, and were currently approaching a milestone of 500. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Community safety stakeholders strategise for an effective GBV campaign At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Indoda Dialogue gives Alex men platform to speak freely
More than 25 men from Alexandra came together at the Alex EMS Be Safe Centre on May 14 for a crucial Indoda Dialogue on ending gender-based violence (GBV) and fostering positive masculinity. The event, organised by FAN Champions For Change, provided a safe platform for men to openly discuss pressing issues such as GBV, HIV, and societal challenges. Read more: Alex CPF concerned about GBV victims reluctance to press charges Charles Mphephu, the manager of FAN Champions For Change, emphasised the importance of men speaking out. 'It is significant for men to advocate against gender-based violence. We know that men are not talking, but here it is safe, we created a space for men to open up and talk about their issues.' Participants tackled topics such as regular HIV testing, and protection, while also stressing the need for continued engagement in men's initiatives such as the Men's Parliament. Mphephu noted that these efforts underscored their commitment to help the Department of Health to reach 1.1 million HIV-positive individuals not yet on treatment. Also read: Community safety stakeholders strategise for an effective GBV campaign Stakeholders, including Man of Hope, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Social Development, joined the dialogue to address men's familial and social responsibilities. 'They know that when they talk here, it remains here. The main aim is to go out and have a healthy family, no fighting, no violence, and to stand up against GBV.' Attendee Khutjo Mabetwa highlighted the power of unity among men. 'When you are a man, one of the things that should be bothering you is, 'Am I playing my role?' No challenge is too big when men stand together.' He further encouraged men to assume their positions as leaders in society and to become actively involved in addressing some of the pressing issues people in the community were grappling with. Mphephu said that attendees found the dialogue insightful. To mobilise more men to combat GBV and build stronger, healthier communities in Alexandra, he revealed plans to expand its reach to Marlboro Park on May 15. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: ENSafrica tackles GBV and patriarchy At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
