 | Press Releases
Voluntary Counseling and Testing and Saving Mothers, Saving Babies Awareness Campaign at Humansdorp
| Date Added: | 04 July 2008 | | Source: | ECDOH News | | Keywords: | VCT, Humansdorp |
The Eastern Cape Department of Health, in collaboration with the Cacadu District Municipality will be hosting the Saving Mothers Saving Babies and Voluntary Counseling and Testing Awareness Campaign, at the Humansdorp Country Club on Friday, 11 July 2008. A Youth Programme has been arranged for Wednesday, 9 July 2008 at the Humansdorp Cultural Centre.
The youth, all learners, women of child bearing age, concerned men, pregnant women and their partners, members of the community and health professionals, are invited to attend the event on Friday. The theme on this occasion is: “Invest in Women’s Health and build a safer future, by getting tested for HIV and live longer”.
The Purpose of the Saving Mothers Saving Babies awareness campaign is to: Mobilize communities to reduce maternal deaths. This can be achieved by promoting early clinic booking for pregnant women, encouraging regular clinic attendance for follow-up care, counseling and support for pregnancy and childbirth, encouraging planning for transport and childbirth, and encouraging childbirth at a health facility while being attended by skilled personnel. Empower communities to make informed decisions, informed choices, include informed planning and take informed action.
Stimulate collaboration between communities and health facilities. Community involvement and participation will lead to ownership of health facilities. Improve the understanding of pregnancy and modern health care services. Create a broader awareness of the notification of the maternal death programme to health care providers.
The objectives of the Voluntary Counseling and Testing are: To promote awareness of Voluntary Counseling and Testing as the catalyst for prevention, treatment, care and support. To promote disclosure of the HIV positive status, To alleviate stigma and normalize HIV and AIDS and To involve the youth in the intervention strategies in fighting against HIV and AIDS.
The intention of Voluntary Counseling and Testing is to address issues of stigma and to promote partnerships with all the relevant stakeholders in the prevention and alleviation of HIV and AIDS. Voluntary Counseling and Testing encourages everyone to get tested and to know their status before they get sick.
A change in mindset regarding behaviour is also promoted and facilitated. It is important to remember that the early detection of HIV and AIDS will result in the prompt management of the infection. Johanetta Clark
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| | | 2008/2009 Policy Speech
Madam Speaker, our Movement has declared education and health to be prioritised as the core elements of social transformation for the next five years. This is in keeping with the process of service delivery improvement that the Department of Health has embarked upon, which we are going to accelerate in the coming years. read more... | |
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