By Nangamso Mabindla
8 July 2005

A COMMUNITY one-stop centre that will take care of the needs of children, families and communities affected by HIV and Aids is on the cards. The centre will be set up by the Buffalo City Municipality.

In a study conducted by the provincial department of social development it was discovered that many of the city's children lived in conditions that prevented them from attaining their full potential. Many were orphaned or vulnerable after losing parents or relatives to HIV/Aids.

Councillor Sindiswa Gomba, from the special programmes unit, said the City wanted to establish the centre to help these young orphans reach their full potential.

"These community multi-purpose centres can be seen as a model for the practical implementation of the National Integrated Plan for Children and Youth Infected with and Affected by HIV/Aids," she said.

Earlier this week a team of Buffalo City officials and councillors hunted for a building to house the one-stop centre. Gomba said they were looking at one of the municipal buildings that were not currently used by the City.

The team had looked at two buildings in the CC Lloyd township near Gompo township in East London. Gomba was impressed with the location. "I would like the centre to be here. This place is very accessible for people coming from Mdantsane, Gompo or anywhere in East London. It's also close to the main road," she said.

The buildings were also close to the traffic department, the Day Hospital and a post office.

"We want to speed up the process and make this one-stop centre work for the benefit of our children. I am very passionate about this because I do not want to see our people give up on life because of HIV and Aids," Gomba added.

She urged medically qualified people in the city to give some of their time to the needy.

"I will be speaking to some medical people asking them to assist us once our centre is up and running. Our main priority now is identifying the building for the centre before we make our next move."