Latest news with #LeratoMalemela
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
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Health outreach campaign targets men and youth in Alexandra
Region E health and youth sector launched a mobile health outreach campaign at Kwabhekilanga Sports Ground on June 20. It brought vital services like HIV testing and counselling, TB screening, family planning, and health education to the community. The campaign aimed to reach those least likely to set foot in a clinic, including young people, but despite the visibility and intent, attendance from the primary target was underwhelming. Read more: Efforts to mobilise men against GBV and spread of HIV continue 'We expected a little bit more youth, but even though we did not see more of them, they did show up. Also, we just wanted the community around the area, especially children, because we know they are no longer going to school,' multisectoral co-ordinator in Region E Lerato Malemela shared. Malemela reflected on the country's 'Close The Gap' campaign, which seeks to shrink the HIV treatment gap by bringing 1.1 million people into treatment. She said the outreach is part of Region E health's efforts to reduce that gap. At the launch of the HIV treatment Gap campaign in Soweto on February 25, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that men remain behind in taking HIV/Aids treatment, noting that the gap is mostly comprised of men. Since then, the Father a Nation (FAN) organisation in Alexandra has been engaging with men and encouraging them to close the gap. FAN member, the Stepping Tennis Foundation member, and co-organiser of the outreach campaign Sibusiso Shongwe said the campaign was intended to focus on that demographic of men. '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. 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!
