The City of Cape Town is taking significant steps to combat HIV and TB by implementing new policies and guidelines, such as Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to motivate people to evaluate their HIV status and offer alternatives for those at risk. The City’s approach focuses on social, biomedical, and behavioural aspects and serves as a model for other cities. The City has seen a substantial increase in HIV selftests, and prevention strategies aim to reduce the untested population. The City’s dedication to combating HIV and TB goes beyond biomedical and behavioural approaches and addresses the social determinants of health.
Unsung Heroes: Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre Celebrates First Aid Competition
by Zola Naidoo
Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) recently organized a unique competition to test the readiness and abilities of first aid and firefighting volunteers. The event brought together enthusiastic teams from various regions, challenging their capacity to administer immediate, lifesaving care in emergency situations. By fostering camaraderie and a common purpose among these courageous individuals, events like the DRMC’s first aid competition inspire more people to contribute to their communities’ wellbeing in times of need. Ultimately, it is the combined efforts of these everyday heroes that contribute to building resilient communities capable of overcoming the challenges presented by emergencies and disasters.