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DENOSA encourages South Africans to observe World Aids Day
Monday 01 December 2014
As the country joins the world in commemorating World Aids Day, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) would like to encourage all South Africans to join global efforts to reduce new infections and deaths by empowering themselves with information.
World Aids Day is observed throughout the world on 1 December each year to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. More than 35 million live with the virus throughout the world, and about a quarter of those infected live are in South Africa, and about 71% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s theme for the commemoration is: “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An HIV-free Generation”.
In support of the late icon, Tata Madiba’s statement when he once said, "Let us give publicity to HIV/AIDS and not hide it, because [that is] the only way to make it appear like a normal illness," DENOSA would like to urge those living with the virus to spread as much of their knowledge that they use for the care of their own with their circle of friends and family members. This is one way of realizing the campaign of reducing to zero the new infections and deaths related to HIV/AIDS.
The country has made great strides in managing the disease by enrolling more than 2 million of those living with HIV/AIDS thanks to nurse-led Nurse-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Treatment (NIMART) intervention programme. Furthermore, decentralization of services to primary health centres has improved the retention rate of patients on Antiretroviral treatment (ART), and this effort has led to a reduction of the burden of managing uncomplicated cases at referral hospitals.
The area of information sharing appears in need of focus, especially tailored information which will work towards managing the spread of the virus among its citizens, as new infections continue to be a discomfort.
DENOSA would also call on provincial governments and private health facilities throughout the country to employ enough nurses and to prioritise empowering their workers by taking them to continuous professional development opportunities so that they continue to impart relevant knowledge to patients as part of rendering their good service.
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
For more information, contact:
Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager
Mobile: 079 875 2663
Tel: 012 343 2315
Email: sibongisenid@denosa.org.za
Website: www.denosa.org.za
Facebook: DENOSA National Page
Twitter: @DENOSAORG
