The Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana, MP, will visit Boland TVET College, in the Western Cape Province, on the 25th April 2017, as part of promoting the First Things First Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS (HEIADS) Programme.  The HEAIDS programme provides a health advisory service that includes HIV testing and counseling, TB and STI screening.

The purpose of the programme is to contribute to the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS 2012-2016 which seeks to eradicate the scourge of HIV/AIDS in, amongst other areas, institutions of higher learning. It focuses on voluntary HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis testing aimed at students as well as pre and post counseling and other related educational programmes.

The Deputy Minister will be addressing challenges around stigma and discrimination to increase momentum in:

• Reduction of HIV/TB/STI infection rates

• Empowerment of girls and women 

• Achievement of greater social equality and cohesion

• Transformation of TVET Colleges

Members of the media are invited to the event scheduled as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 25 April 2017

Time: 09h00          

Venue: Boland TVET College, Drakenstein Campus, C/O Bergrivier Boulevard and Hospital Street, Paarl

RSVPs and Enquires: Busiswa Gqangeni on 079 547 5299/ Gqangeni.B@dhet.gov.za  or Zandile Mashaba on 081 553 6954/ zandile@usaf.ac.za