City Launches "Get Tested" Campaign on World Aids Day

The City of Cape Town is launching an exciting HIV/AIDS campaign on World AIDS Day, Friday 1 December. The GET TESTED Campaign aims to strengthen the City's prevention campaign so as to turn off the tap of new HIV infections throughout the city.

International and local research shows that one of the best ways to get behaviour change is for people to know their HIV status. On World AIDS Day the City will be launching this campaign by running outreach events in shopping malls in the eight health sub-districts.

Testing will take place between 09:00 - 15:00 in the following shopping malls:

• St George's Mall, Cape Town CBD
• Somerset Mall, Somerset West
• The Promenade Mall, Mitchells Plain
• Parow Centre (previously know as the Sanlam Centre)
• Pick 'n Pay Hypermarket Centre, Ottery
• New Khayelitsha Mall, Khayelitsha
• Shoprite Durbanville Town Centre, Durbanville
• Vangate Mall, Athlone
• Civic Centre, Cape Town (for staff)

Mayor Helen Zille, the political champion of the campaign, will show her personal commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS by being publicly tested at St George's Mall at 10:15 on Friday 1 December. She will be accompanied by Cllr James Vos, Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee. The site is in St George's Mall opposite Woolworths. There will be a photo opportunity and time for questions.

Many of the members of MAYCO, the Health Portfolio Committee and the City's Executive Management Team will also be publicly tested. People can also drop into their local clinic or community health centre on 1 December for free counselling and an HIV test. This is also possible throughout the year, but then there might be a need to make a booking beforehand.

Cllr Vos said: "The "GET TESTED" campaign follows a similar successful city-wide testing campaign implemented by the Mayor of Washington DC which I learnt about at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto. Knowing your HIV status is possibly the best trigger for behaviour change, particularly if the individual finds out that they are HIV positive. It was made clear that cities around the globe have a crucial role to play in delivering results in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Municipal governments are at the forefront of their communities' response to health challenges, including HIV. "I believe that it is not just national government that must be engaged in this urgent campaign, but that municipalities must work hand in hand with national and provincial government, the private sector, and community leaders, in order to help develop and implement local health programmes, including policies for preventing and controlling HIV. Cities must be the leaders, and this is pivotal to a successful outcome.

Cities should not stand back from this challenge, as they can play a key role in finding solutions. Cities have a unique perspective on their communities, on community health and, furthermore, on empowerment of citizens to help themselves." Cllr Vos said.

Almost everyone who finds out they are HIV+ will want to protect their artner or spouse from infection. Having an HIV test stops someone from unknowingly spreading HIV, provides an opportunity to protect those they love and to avoid reinfection. Post test counselling, ongoing support and referral to care is provided (including anti retroviral treatment if required). HIV can now be managed as a chronic disease instead of being viewed as a death sentence.

Research is less impressive regarding behaviour change of HIV negative people once they know their status. Individuals benefit from the pre and post test counselling and will know the risks of spreading the virus and how to protect themselves and others from HIV infection.

Dr Ivan Toms, Executive Director: City Health, stated that: "Prevention is as easy as ABC. Abstaining from sex is a key option for young people who have not yet become sexually active. Married individuals or those in a committed relationship need to take responsibility for their lives and those they love. First prize is to remain faithful to their life partner (Be faithful). For sexually active people not yet in a committed relationship they also need to take responsibility for their lives and to always practise safer sex and use a Condom every time they have sex."

The campaign's brand brings together two well known brands and integrates them into a positive and colourful brand. The international red ribbon is integrated into the City's brand showing the City's strategic commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS and promoting HIV testing. This logo will be used as a decal for all Council vehicles.

Dr Toms said: "We have already tested over half a million citizens of Cape Town. There are 2,250,000 adults in the city and we hope through this ongoing campaign, which will run until 30 June 2007, to make it easy for the rest of the city to "GET TESTED". As a city we already have the lowest HIV prevalence (16% of pregnant women are HIV positive)." The MAYCO Member for Health, Cllr Martin Fienies stated: "This City that works for you is using this window of opportunity to empower our citizens to take responsibility for their own health. I urge you to 'GET TESTED' and live life to the full as responsible citizens of our beloved mother city."

Issued by:

Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media Queries:

Cllr James Vos
Chairperson: Health Portfolio Committee
Cell: 083 640 7640

Dr Ivan Toms
Executive Director: City Health
Tel: 021 400 2100
Cell: 084 220 0143