Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

The Aurum Institute for Health, in partnership with Jozi FM and the Department of Health, will launch an HIV-Aids centre in the Bree Market Mall in the Johannesburg CBD later this month.

The multi-purpose centre, named Emthonjeni, will offer services such as voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and women and men's clinic among other things.

Aurum spokesman Tebogo Lesebe said: "We want to bring voluntary counselling and testing closer to taxi commuters and small traders.

"Instead of taking a day off from work to stand in long queues at the clinics and hospitals, they can now pop in at the centre for testing and counselling."

She said those who test HIV positive would be referred to Aurum's general practitioner networks for treatment.

Radio personality and gay socialite Mveleli Gqwede, who has been adopted by Aurum as its ambassador, said: "We are taking HIV-Aids away from the prison of clinics and hospitals and putting it right at the centre of town.

"We want people to communicate HIV in a social way."

The centre will be opened on July 23 by Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo.