The Makhado Municipality has officially launched the Makhado Aids Council at an event that was held at the municipal chambers in Louis Trichardt two weeks ago.

According to the director of community services at the Makhado Municipality, Mr Elias Mugari, the main objective of the aids council is to give advice and guidance and mobilise the necessary resources. It will also co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate HIV/Aids matters.

“It is this council that must advise the Limpopo provincial government and local government on HIV/Aids and related matters,” he said. He added that the Aids Council would provide overall guidance to the province on the implementation of provincial and National HIV/Aids strategies and other related plans.

The Makhado Aids Council is expected to collaborate with the Limpopo Provincial Aids Council and the Vhembe District Aids Council.

The Makhado Aids Council comprises representatives from different organisations such as the house of traditional leaders, the business sector, the Vhembe District Mu-nicipal Council, community-based organisations and representatives of religious bodies. The mayor of Makhado Municipality, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, will act as its chairperson.

During the launch of the Makhado Aids Council, the acting mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality, Cllr Rufus Selepe, said that this Aids Council was necessary to ensure a better quality of life for all the region’s people. He added that the Makhado Aids Council should serve as a guiding tool for all the people with regard to HIV/Aids activities in Makhado, Vhembe and the entire country.

The National HIV/Aids Strategy stipulates that the fight against HIV/Aids is a multi-sectoral approach and as such it requires collective efforts from government, the busi-ness sector, civil society and a strengthening of community responses.

According to national HIV/Aids statistics, the Makhado municipal area has the lowest incidence of this dreaded virus, compared to other municipalities in the Vhembe District such as Thulamela, Mutale and Musina.

It was also highlighted during the launch that the Bungeni and Tiyani Health Centres in the Hlanganani area are now accredited to provide antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to AIDS patients.

Speaking on behalf of traditional leaders, Khosi Vho-Andries Mulima said there was not a family that was not touched by HIV/Aids and its effects, therefore community members should work together in the fight against the pandemic.

“On behalf of all traditional leaders, I support the launching of this Aids council, so that it can give guidance and direction to all stake-holders in the fight against HIV/Aids,” he said.

He added that if people continued to be ignorant about the issue of HIV/Aids, they would all perish. He urged community members during the launch to engage in farming, so that they can produce fruit and vegetables, in order for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

According to statistics provided by the Vhembe District Health Department, the prevalence of HIV/Aids’ was 14.9% in 2006, but it increased to 15.2% in 2007.