EAST LONDON- In a ground-breaking move, Beyond Zero is revolutionizing HIV prevention with its Best Practice Dissemination Workshop ‘Beyond Implementation‘, currently underway from 26 to 28 November 2024 at Hemingway’s Hotel in East London.
Community Systems Strengthening Programme Manager at Beyond Zero, Amukelani Maluluke emphasized the organization’s commitment in empowering communities in addressing their unique challenges.
Speaking at the Best Practice Dissemination Workshop, Maluluke said, “We are here at the Best Practice Dissemination Workshop to showcase the thoughts that people have used to respond to different challenges they have in their communities, specifically the community-related social ills that we have.”
A leading clinical and radiation oncologist at Walter Sisulu University, Dr. Zukiswa Jafta has sounded the alarm on the alarming link between HIV and cancer.Speaking on the first day Beyond Zero workshop Dr. Jafta emphasized, “There is an urgent need for multi-disciplinary collaboration and advocacy to prevent cancer among HIV-positive individuals. Unfortunately there is a high incidence of cancer among people living with HIV,” Jafta noted.
According to Dr. Jafta, a concerted effort is required to ensure that preventative activities are implemented throughout the country, particularly through non-governmental organizations(NGOs) and community-based organizations(CBOs).
A Doctoral Degree holder in Sphychology at University of South Africa and a researcher in Nelson Mandela University Dr. Tinyiko Chauke has shed light on the complex and devastating relationship between gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health issues particularly among men. According to Dr. Chauke, GBV is often compounded by underlying mental health issues in men which in turn have a disproportionate impact on women, “Women are the ones who suffer the most and are often dehumanized by being associated with carrying diseases,” Dr. Chauke said.
“The legacy of apartheid continues to disadvantage black men who were made to feel small and powerless, this has contributed to a toxic masculinity that perpetuates GBV and mental health issues,” Dr. Chauke explained.
Through interactive sessions, presentations and skills-building workshop attendees were empowered with the tools, expertise and inspiration to adapt best practices, scale successful interventions and drive meaningful change in their communities.
Photograph: Beyond-zero
