"HIV/AIDS knows no social, gender or racial boundaries. The disease thrives in an environment of poverty, rapid urbanisation and destabilisation. In such circumstances, women have very little control over their sexuality and lives, and are especially vulnerable to infection", says Mbongeni Mondlane, Acting General Manager for the Working for Water programme, an invading plant clearing programme with over 300 projects throughout the country.

The Working for Water programme is under no illusions. Of the more than 23 000 employees currently employed in the programme, it is likely that a great number of them will be infected. The implications for productivity, household income and family life cannot be overlooked.

"Working for Water management is serious about HIV/AIDS, and to prove this, we will on 1 December 2001 be handing out thousands of HIV/AIDS awareness cards and pins to take forward the red ribbon campaign to people in communities throughout the country", says Boniswa Mangcu, the programme’s HIV Co-ordinator. "Each kit contains a red ribbon pin, condoms and tips on how to avoid infection", she explains.

The programme is committed to the integration of HIV/AIDS into the everyday activities of the programme (through literacy and First Aid) with a workplace and a community focus. A peer education approach has been adopted, where individuals are selected for their capacity to encourage HIV positive persons to participate in the programme, as well as a willingness to interact and work with HIV positive and negative persons regarding the issues of HIV/AIDS.

Creative, non-threatening approaches to AIDS awareness are adopted by the programme, with drama, song and poetry competitions and exhibitions. The development of skills and confidence in people is critical in creating an enabling environment and allowing them to protect themselves.

The Working for Water programme will commemorate World HIV/AIDS countrywide at their various project areas with millions of other South Africans. The theme for World HIV/AIDS Day 2001 is: I care…do you?

Boniswa Mangcu says all South Africans are challenged to start caring for all those living with HIV/AIDS. "The Working for Water programme cares. Amongst all our workers we will distribute information on HIV/AIDS as well as handing out condoms. This is just a small gesture to our 23 000 employees to remind them of the awareness around HIV/AIDS we have already created since 1995."

Various HIV/AIDS programmes will be hosted by Working for Water and its partners in De Aar, Colesberg, Victoria West, Kuruman, Postmasburg, Kimberley, Jan Kempdorp, Springbok, Northern Province, Western Cape, Joubertina, Driekoppies, Bushbuckridge, Graskop, Lydenburg and Nelspruit. The programmes will take place from 1 – 7 December 2001 in the various areas. Awareness creation programmes will continue to run in all areas in partnership with the National Department of Health, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the provincial departments of Health and Social Welfare.

"World Aids Day is about continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS. By raising awareness through the distribution of condoms, and promoting HIV/AIDS training and skills development, the Working for Water programme is addressing the challenge of HIV/AIDS", says Simone Noemdoe, the programme’s Social Development Co-ordinator. "With our Universal Precautions programme, and encouraging workers to know their status and live positively, as well as strengthening partnerships with health and community based organizations, the programme is facing the challenge head on".