Parents and caregivers often view school holidays with dread as they know how vulnerable their children will be alone at home or wandering the streets looking for entertainment. The FIFA World Cup has brought about an extra long mid-year break of 5 weeks and we know from experience that when children are left to their own devices they are vulnerable not only to abuse but also to sexual experimentation.

HIVSA was invited by the Department of Education to participate in running constructive programmes for adolescents at two of their school sites in Soweto. HIVSA will be running a interactive Peer Educational programme aimed at teaching young people to take responsibility for their own sexual and reproductive health and to “know their status” as a personal gift that they can give themselves.

The South African Governments’ HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) Campaign was announced by President Jacob Zuma in December 2009 and Launched in April 2010. The campaign aims to test 15 million people between April 2010 and June 2011 and will: -

• Mobilise people to know their status;
• Increase access to treatment, care and support services.
• Support people with key prevention messaging in order to encourage them to take proactive steps towards a healthy lifestyle - irrespective of HIV status;

This campaign faces many challenges some of which include having insufficient material and human resources and the ability to mobilise enough people to test. It is therefore important that all organisations involved in health provide support to this campaign. HIVSA is assisting the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development by training over 300 lay counsellors in HCT and providing social mobilization, for people to test, in and around Soweto.

The South African Police (SAPS), in many instances, are the one state department that is seen repeatedly on television services across the world.

HIVSA, supported by the ANOVA Health Institute, are providing our services to the police men and women based at all 12 police stations in and around Soweto. With the influx of tourists and visitors into the area for the 2010 World Soccer, the SAPS including police reservists, will have many issues to contend with. HIVSA will be providing a one day workshop on HIV / AIDS and related issues to approximately 1200 police men and women.

Our Mission

To develop and implement innovative and multi-disciplinary programmes which directly contribute to the increased wellbeing, upliftment and life skills education of people living with HIV.

Our Credo

• To value and respect all individuals whose lives have been affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in South Africa.
• To inspire people living positively with HIV and to take responsibility for their lives, thereby improving the overall quality of life.
• To honour the needs of people infected with or affected by HIV and AIDS. We do not dictate, but invite their participation in the development of appropriate initiatives.
• To form alliances and work in collaboration with partner institutions and NGOs to provide a strong network of HIV and AIDS support.

What we do

• HIVSA offers comprehensive, therapeutic care to those individuals infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS and their families, especially those living in impoverished circumstances.
• HIVSA recognises that HIV/AIDS does not exist in a vacuum and that there are multiple psychological, social and environmental factors that exacerbate the poor lifestyle choices in impoverished communities.
• People affected by HIV/AIDS need much, much more than just medical healthcare, with non-medical support being essential for their overall wellbeing.