GETTING TO ZERO – WORLD AIDS DAY
The international theme for this year’s World AIDS Day (1 December) is “Getting to Zero - Zero New HIV Infections…..Zero Discrimination…..Zero AIDS-Related Deaths”. This theme is backed by the United Nations “Getting to Zero” campaign and runs until 2015.

Zero New Infections

The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) and its Rolling Positive programme (funded by the Global Fund) seeks to encourage people with disabilities to start talking more about how they can value themselves and their loved ones enough to love, protect and respect by having safer sexual practices. The educational programme aims to change individual behaviour and to reduce the number of new HIV infections.

Zero Stigma and Discrimination

Not only do people with disabilities continue to suffer stigma and discrimination because of their disability but they experience double the amount of stigma and discrimination when they reveal that they are living with HIV. Our workshops and support groups seek to cultivate safe spaces for people to feel it is alright for them to reveal their status without themselves being ridiculed or their children and families being marginalised.

Zero AIDS-related Deaths

QASA continues to push for access to treatment for everyone as a fundamental human right to health and access, not only for free or affordable medication but also food which is needed to take the medication. QASA joins with the many other civic organisations pushing for greater access to treatment for all, congratulates our government for its increased spending on providing anti-retroviral treatment and calls on all citizens to act now to stop the spread of HIV and to challenge the ongoing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

“QASA has made a commitment to people will disabilities through the Rolling Positive programme, to ensure that information about HIV & AIDS and opportunities to discuss the subject are available. We are very proud to be on the ground with an effective and sustainable project to ensure the well-being of our members and other people with disabilities” says Ari Seirlis, National Director of QASA

For further information about the programme, please contact QASA at 0860ROLLING (0860 7655 464)