Church helps fight HIV in Bay

A church fellowship has joined forces with the Eastern Cape Health Department in the battle against HIV and TB at a massive denominational conference in Port Elizabeth.

The Men’s Christian Guild, also known as the uManyano LwaMadoda (association of men), is a fellowship component of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

The MCG’s four-day annual denominational conference has attracted about 300 delegates from all over South Africa, as well as Zimbabwe and Zambia. The event started at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton on Thursday. An HIV counselling and testing campaign and a TB survey are being run from five mobile clinics and two tents during the event. Several NGOs have also offered their assistance.

Local organising committee convener the Rev Dr Bukelwa Hans said the gathering was “the biggest movement of men in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa”.

“It meets once every year and comprises 15 regions, including Zambia and Zimbabwe. And though we are targeting men, anyone is welcome to attend.”

Hans said the fellowship was interested in launching partnerships with TB hospitals countrywide but was using Empilweni TB Hospital in New Brighton as a pilot project.

A memorandum of understanding states that Empilweni Hospital will promote and strengthen campaigns for healthy lifestyles and improve the quality of care at the facility. The MCG in turn will partner with health institutions to assist where needed and promote prevention programmes.

(This story is courtesy of The Herald. Used with permission.)