Vhembe District Executive Mayor Cllr Tshitereke Matibe has urged the community to share information with everyone in order to help reduce the infection rate of HIV.

In his address during the TB and Aids Awareness Campaign held at Makuya Multi-Purpose Centre last Thursday, Matibe said health institutions within Vhembe should not discriminate against fellow Africans who came here for economical reasons.

Matibe said the government was committed to the integration of the economy of the SADC and its people in all aspects of life. “All of us are obliged to embrace each other and share the few resources we have.  The goal of integrating SADC countries cannot be achieved without our participation. As responsible and caring citizens, we must share our health programmes and information related to communicable diseases such as STI and HIV/Aids with our brothers and sisters from our neighboring countries,” said Matibe.

Since 2009, much as been achieved in terms of preventing new infections, treatment and support for those who were already affected by HIV/Aids, said Matibe.

He added that a significant decline had been recorded in terms of new infections.  In responding to the efforts and policy direction by the national and provincial governments, Vhembe District developed an achievable operational plan that was adopted by the council last November.  The operational plan is aligned to the national and provincial strategies.

Matibe also congratulated Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on launching rolling out a programme of taking a single pill per day for HIV/Aids patients.

Matibe said a phenomenon which was emerging in the communities was that older men who were wealthier and financial sound were having sexual affairs with younger women. “This disturbing phenomenon is posing a very serious threat for both the sugar daddies and the younger women. The statistics of older men who are being infected with HIV/Aids are growing on a daily basis. In the process, the innocent spouses of the sugar daddies also become victims. I plead with all middle-aged and older men to refrain from these tendencies,” said Matibe.