The marathon testing week, which will take place at various sites around Soweto and Industria, commences in Industria Central on Monday, 22 November and ends at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Saturday, 27 November. The event will be part of the build-up to World Aids Day on 1 December.

“We are always looking for ways to get involved and to help with the challenges faced by the communities we serve, and one of the ways we’ve thought of is to encourage people to get tested for HIV and also empower them with the message that knowing your status can help you shape your future,” Clare Soutter, Marketing Manager at The Citizen said.

Miriam Mhazo, Health Services Director at Society for Family Health, which runs the New Start Counselling and Testing programme, said that trained professionals would provide the HIV counselling and testing services during that week.

“We would really like to encourage people to take advantage of this initiative. We are bringing the counselling and testing service to where they are in order to make it as easy as possible for them to get to know their status. HIV is preventable and manageable when you know how, but that is only possible if you know your status early,” Mhazo said.

New Start has traditionally made use of partnerships with the government of South Africa, a number of corporate firms and non-profit organisations in its bid to curb the spread of HIV and raise awareness about responses to the epidemic.

In March 2010, New Start teamed up with Standard Bank in a nationwide initiative providing HIV counselling and testing for Standard Bank employees and the general public. Through this partnership, more than 9000 people took responsibility of their lives by getting tested for HIV.

New Start’s partnership with Levi Strauss South Africa has also helped make inroads in the country’s response to HIV and has mobilised thousands of South Africans to get tested and know their status through the legendary Rage for the Revolution Music Festival.

“I would like to thank The Citizen and Caxton Urban Newspapers for partnering with us on this campaign. It’s yet another sign of the value of collaboration in the response to HIV and AIDS in South Africa,” Mhazo said.

“The South African government cannot fight this battle alone. It is now everyone’s responsibility – corporates, the government, NGOs and the public – to join forces for a greater impact on the reduction of new HIV infections. The positive results of our partnerships are testament to the fact that we can win the battle against the spread of new HIV infections if we work together.”

Testing Stations:
• 22 November (Monday) – Industria Central: Barney Gaffney Stadium, cnr Maroela and Majuba str, Bosmont
• 23 November (Tuesday) – Dobsonville shopping centre
• 24 November (Wednesday) – Eldorado Park: Civic Centre, grounds outside
• 25 November (Thursday) – Jabulani Mall
• 26 November (Friday) – Bara Mall
• 27 November (Saturday) – Maponya Mall

Operating hours: 09:00 to 17:00