July 18 is a special day for South Africans; this year will be a particularly special day for many of Cape Town’s most vulnerable residents as they become the focus of efforts to promote their health and dignity.
In a fitting celebration of Nelson Mandela’s birthday, TB HIV Care is joining forces with CCID, Artscape, Radisson Blue and Streetscapes to provide people who live on the street and people who use drugs, with some of the comforts that most of us take for granted. The event will be hosted by Artscape in Cape Town’s CBD.
A hot meal and something warm and clean to wear will be provided, as well as health services, such as TB and HIV testing, wound care and methadone treatment.
By pooling their resources, these organisations will be able to really make a difference for people who often feel invisible. It might be only a day, but one breakthrough could lead to saving a life, or changing the path of someone in need.
Radisson Blue will supply meals for 200 people and TB HIV Care will distribute clothing and non-perishable food at the Dignity Day event on July 18.
TB HIV Care is collecting donations of food and clothing to hand out on the day.
“We would like to encourage everybody who can assist to drop off items that you don’t need, or non-perishable food. It could mean the difference between a day of rummaging through bins and begging for money, and feeling human. Items can be dropped off at the TB HIV Care offices, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, or call us on 021 425-0050 and we will collect,” the organsation said in a statement.
Including people who use drugs in this initiative is part of TB HIV Care’s ongoing efforts to support rather than punish this vulnerable group of people.
Mfezi Mcingana, programme director of TB HIV Care’s Key Populations programme, said: “The idea is to acknowledge, support and restore basic dignity, often a first step to re-integration into society.”
He added: “The TB HIV Care Needle and Syringe Programme, based on the principle of harm reduction, distributes clean needles to people who inject drugs, with the aim of slowing down the rate of transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections. The programme also collects used needles and disposes of them safely to prevent any harm to communities who share the same spaces as people who use drugs.”
The needle and syringe programme runs in line with global advocacy calling for drug policies to be based on health and human rights. The transmission of HIV among injecting drug users and related populations of sex workers, youth and other vulnerable people is adding to the burden of disease in countries worldwide.
Evidence from 20 years of research shows that needle and syringe programmes prevent, control and ultimately reduce prevalence of HIV and other blood-borne infections among injecting drug users. These programmes are now operating in more than 60 countries in all regions of the world, yet it is estimated that less than 2% of injecting drug users are able to access sterile needles and syringes through NSPs (WHO).
For more information, please contact Michelle Carey or Melissa Lategan on (021) 425-0050.