By Nangamso Mabindla
12 February 2007

MUNICIPAL staff members were encouraged to get tested when the City held HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) sessions for employees.

Last week's sessions follow the success of the HIV and Aids prevalence study, done in 2004. The tests, conducted by the Epicentre Aids Risk Management in Johannesburg, were aimed at finding out how the incident rate of infection had changed since the first study.

Employees were encouraged to take part in the tests so that the Epicentre could get near-accurate results. This was important in planning initiatives to help stop the spread of the virus in the municipality.

Municipal employees, including senior managers and councillors, heeded the call to be tested. Talking about the City's bold step, a councillor, Luntu Bobo, said that it showed that the municipality cared about the wellness of its employees and customers.

"The municipality is looking after the wellness of its staff and we also want to help workers affected by the epidemic. If our employees are well looked after, whether positive or negative, then they are able to deliver services to our communities and customers," Bobo said.

It was important for the City's senior managers and councillors to take part in the tests. "We need to show our staff that we are taking this VCT very seriously; that is why I decided to come and be tested as well."

Municipal manager Gaster Sharpley was also tested. "We want to show our staff that we are not only interested in their work but also in their health," he said.

It was important that senior management took the lead in the programme. "By taking the lead in the tests we want to show staff that we are taking the VCT very seriously. That is why I decided to test and to know my status."