September 29, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
THE HIV/Aids pandemic is a serious threat to the health of Joburgers and the development of the city.
Many residents are infected with HIV; many are sick from Aids-related illnesses; and many elderly people have to bring up their orphaned grandchildren.
In a move to help deal with these problems, the City has established a Mayoral Aids Fund that will support projects aimed at helping people in Johannesburg infected with or affected by HIV/Aids.
"The Johannesburg Aids Council identified the need for the City to raise funds for the new implementation of HIV/Aids programmes, given the limited resources for new HIV/Aids initiatives," ANC Councillor Sophie Msiza said during a council meeting.
"Fund raising activities, such as golf days, dinners, soccer matches, operas, music festivals and dramas, will be held throughout the city. Everyday is Aids Day as more and more people are infected with HIV/Aids."
Other City projects aimed at HIV/Aids are the Social Development Food Programme and the Social Burial Package.
Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo recently hosted a golf day, followed by a mayoral dinner, to generate funds for the Mayoral Aids Fund, raising R632 510.
"The Johannesburg Aids Council has proposed that all the monies raised from these events be used to implement the Joburg Buckets of Love and Care HIV/Aids project," said Meisie Letutla, the deputy director for HIV/Aids in the City's health department.
"More projects like the Jozi Ihlomile and a billboards project will be implemented when we get more funds."
Joburg Buckets of Love and Care
Buckets of Love and Care was set up to deal with the basic needs of about 4 000 individuals and families who have been directly affected by HIV/Aids. These families will be given buckets of groceries.
The social services department will help identify target groups and religious organisations will be brought in as partners to help distribute the food parcels.
Target groups will include vulnerable families with minimal or no financial support, like child-headed families, elderly people looking after orphans, families where caregivers are sick and bedridden, and the destitute.
Jozi Ihlomile
Jozi Ihlomile intends to work with relevant role players to co-ordinate preventative, therapeutic and supportive programmes. These will work towards changing people's sexual behaviour, lifestyle and perceptions, so reducing the incidence of HIV/Aids.
The Jozi Ihlomile programmes include Adopt A Block, in which trained volunteers will "adopt a block" and attend to the identified needs of that block. They will refer people to community education groups, support groups for people living with HIV/Aids, nutrition programmes, home-based care services, voluntary counselling and testing, and for indigent burials.
Letutla explained that financial help from the Mayoral Aids Fund for any beneficiaries would depend on what cash had been donated to the fund and what cash it had raised.
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