The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality (CALM) hosted a Local AIDS Council (LAC) meeting and Mayoral Outreach Programme at Syde Sports Ground in Diepdale on June 30, bringing together government departments, stakeholders and community members to promote health awareness and improve service delivery.
The LAC, led by Khulelaphi Mkhwanazi, focused on strengthening the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by providing residents with information on prevention, treatment and available healthcare services.
Several organisations, including Thubelihle, Mothers2Mothers, the Department of Health, the Department of Education and other partners, participated in the outreach by offering health education, counselling and support services to community members.
Executive Mayor Cllr Mbuso Magubane encouraged residents to take responsibility for their health by following the advice of healthcare professionals and making use of services available at local health facilities.
He also informed the community that the HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, has not yet been introduced in the municipality but expressed optimism that it would become available in the future.
“The introduction of new HIV prevention methods will strengthen our efforts to reduce new infections. We encourage residents to continue using the prevention services currently available while we await the rollout of Lenacapavir,” said Magubane.
The Mayoral Outreach Programme also gave residents an opportunity to engage directly with the Mayor and municipal leadership on issues affecting their communities.
Magubane highlighted several service delivery projects undertaken by the municipality and acknowledged that additional resources were needed to improve residents’ quality of life. He also recognised calls for the development of sports facilities to provide young people with safe recreational spaces and help steer them away from social challenges.
Residents raised concerns about service delivery, poverty and youth unemployment. In response, the Executive Mayor reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to addressing these challenges through continued collaboration with government departments and stakeholders.
As part of the outreach, the municipality donated food parcels to 10 elderly residents to support vulnerable members of the community.
During the health awareness session, the Department of Health highlighted its achievements during the current reporting period, including the continued reduction in mother-to-child transmission of HIV through improved prevention and treatment programmes.
The department also announced that the annual Pink Drive Campaign will be held in August at Nhlazatshe 4, Nhlazatshe 6, Mayflower, Dundonald and eManzana health facilities.
The campaign will focus on screening and raising awareness of the five most common cancers affecting South Africans: breast, cervical, prostate, lung and skin cancer. Residents were encouraged to visit their nearest health facility for information on screening dates and available services.
Municipal officials said the outreach formed part of the municipality’s ongoing commitment to improving access to healthcare, strengthening partnerships with government departments, and providing residents with a platform to raise service delivery concerns while receiving essential health information and support.
