By Nangamso Mabindla
11 December 2006

TO mark Aids, Month Buffalo City municipality launched its comprehensive Peer Education Programme in East London and King William's Town last week.

Initiated early this year by the City and the Epicentre, the programme aims to train peer educators to teach municipal employees and citizens about ways to deal with the Aids epidemic. In October the City launched its corporate services peer education programme.

Speaking at the launch at a packed East London City Hall, Buffalo City municipal manager Gaster Sharpley said that the HIV and Aids pandemic was on a rampage to destroy future generations.

"We really need to do something about it, especially in the workplace. We need to come up with a way to teach ourselves to help each other deal with the war that is already upon us."

According to Sharpley the epidemic was targeting people in their productive years. "It targets ages of productiveness, our youth, and we want to come up with strategies to curb it and stop it from eliminating our young people."

Siane Nkhahle from the South African Cities Network said that the City was progressing in its fight against HIV and Aids. "We at the Cities Network are about cities working together and sharing knowledge on important issues like HIV and Aids," he said.

The peer education programme was very important in teaching employees about HIV and Aids. "With knowledge half of the battle is won, and this programme empowers people by giving them that needed knowledge to fight this battle," Nkhahle added.

He urged the City to continue with its fight against the pandemic for the benefit of its people. "The success of the municipality will help the broader Buffalo City area."

Following the formalities the 100 peer educators were asked to make their pledge in front of the City's staff and municipal manager.