Private companies embark on a programme aimed at reducing new HIV infections and teenage pregnancies
ALEXANDRA – Students, workers and community members took a pledge to follow a healthy and responsible lifestyle.
In a quest to fight the HIV and Aids epidemic in Africa, condom manufacturing company Durex in partnership with Red, a global non-profit organisation, has embarked on a mission to reduce new HIV infections.
Durex, which forms part of Reckitt Benckiser producers of health, hygiene and home products, along with Red have started roadshows in different communities in Gauteng, promoting condom use, providing sex education and distributing more than 150 000 free condoms.
As part of the roadshows, the Durex red bus visited the Johannesburg Central College Alexandra campus to raise awareness and educate students about HIV and Aids as a build-up to World Aids Day on 1 December.
According to Peter Edwards, head of external communications at Reckitt Benckiser in the United Kingdom, the company has embarked on the initiative to educate communities about health matters and specifically HIV and Aids.
“We’ve partnered with Red and Durex to help South Africans break the shackles of HIV and Aids,” he said.
“This also makes part of our build-up and preparations for the 2018 World Aids Day.”
During the campaign at the campus, students and community members pledged to take responsibility for their lifestyles by adding their signatures to the pledge board. The boards with signatures will be taken to the high panel HIV and Aids discussion event that will be held on 30 November this year in Johannesburg.
