01 December 2015 - As part of Aurecon’s commitment to the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS, Aurecon Cares commemorated International World AIDS Day by running an internal campaign to educate employees about the disease, its treatment and the preventative measures available to curb it.
The campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and at remembering those who have died of the disease. People and organisations from around the world observe the day, often by focusing on the education of AIDS prevention and control.
This campaign is especially relevant in South Africa which has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. The United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2014 data reflects the following findings for HIV and AIDS cases in South Africa:
The prevalence of infection among women is almost twice as high as that of men
The number of people living with HIV in South Africa is 6.8 million
Approximately 340 000 children between the ages of 0 and 14 are living with HIV
More than 2.3 million children were orphaned by HIV and AIDS
Employees were encouraged to undergo testing as knowing their HIV status is key to combatting the spread of the disease. It is vitally important for both your own health and well-being, as well that of your loved ones. Having the test builds trust in relationships, reduces the risk of further infections and helps plan for the future. Whether the results are Negative or Positive, knowing one’s status can assist in the management of the disease and ensure that treatment plans are followed.
World AIDS Day 2015 was an opportunity for Aurecon to remind itself that HIV is still a reality and that it is incumbent on all staff to continue fighting prejudice, stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
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