LTA Commemorates World Aids Day

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people throughout the Globe to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died through this pandemic. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988

Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) has joined the masses in commemorating this all important health day by hosting an LTA World Aids Day seminar for staff members and members of the media in attendance. The highlight of the event was a visit to Sello Sa Batho Home-Care Centre in Seshego township (zone 3), whereby members of staff and the executive management committee (EMC) of the LTA donated vegetables. In his address to staff and media, the CEO of LTA, Mr. Rob Tooley, said, “Given the newly released statistics announced by the Minister of Health, the situation is remains one of great concern but we are more determined to increase our efforts of emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle to all our employees, particularly when it comes to knowing your status”.

The purpose of this project was to unite against the fight of HIV/AIDS and encourage people to do voluntary counseling and testing in order to know their status and to live healthier lives. The theme for this year’s observance is “Getting to Zero”. Zero new HIV infections; Zero discrimination and Zero AIDs related deaths. In her presentation Ms. Anna Thulare, the AIDs activist, encouraged all members of the LTA staff to be responsible by getting tested for HIV to know their status. She told the audience, “I lived with the virus for 8 years to date yet I feel healthy as I am taking medication, while I continue leaving a healthy lifestyle”.

The event also included the launch of a Peer Education Programme in which seven members of the LTA were introduced as Peer Educators. The latter will teach fellow employees and create awareness about HIV/AIDS, while supporting people living with the disease. 

The event culminated in employees doing HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) administered by the Department of Health (DOH). Most employees of the LTA also took part in the HTC for purposes of knowing their status.