South African Province Launches AIDS Awareness Billboard Campaign

A South African provincial minister yesterday at the University of the North in South Africa unveiled an HIV/AIDS awareness billboard campaign aimed at the northern province of Limpopo, BuaNews/AllAfrica.com reports. As part of the campaign, which aims to reach individuals in both rural and urban areas of Limpopo province, 135 billboards printed in several different languages have been posted throughout the province. Non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, youth groups and government agencies have assisted in the development of the program, and the provincial department of health has allocated approximately $820,075 for the campaign. Sello Moloto, minister of the executive council for health and welfare for Limpopo, said that the billboards are evidence of the government's commitment to ensuring access to public information, according to BuaNews/AllAfrica.com. "The messages will increase the level of knowledge about safer sex practices, encouraging interaction and communication on safer sex practices and assist in the reduction of HIV infection," Moloto added (Sakoana, BuaNews/AllAfrica.com, 8/19).