An investigation into the role and challenges faced by AIDS Councils in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities: the case of the Ehlanzeni AIDS Council
Zitha, Sipho Siphiwosethu
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and challenges of AIDS Councils
in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities with regard to community
mobilization and advocacy within the broader advocacy function of the South African
National AIDS Council (SANAC) and within the framework of the HIV & AIDS and STI
Strategic plan for South Africa 2007-2011(NSP). A qualitative research design was
applied. Individual face to face interviews were conducted with the respondents who
were purposively sampled across the five local municipalities comprising Ehlanzeni
District Municipality.
Similar studies conducted previously suggest that many AIDS Councils stakeholders
and members had a limited understanding of their role, and encountered more
challenges in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities. This study revealed that
stakeholders and members seem to have steadily progressed in understanding their
role as well as in weathering the various challenges they are confronted with within
the AIDS councils. Be that as it may, there still exists some gaps between what is
envisaged in both the NSPs (NSP 2000-2005 and NSP 2006-2011) and the current
situation in many LACs. Many questions still need to be answered if South Africans
are prepared to triumph over the AIDS pandemic.
Text in English
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