PLAY SAFE CAMPAIGN ON WORLD AIDS DAY 2009

OUT commemorated the 2009 World Aids Day with a celebration of the Play Safe Campaign
Published on: 06 March 2010

The Campaign was initiated in 2007, and since then has grown from strength to strength. The Campaign focused on links between substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections (including HIV).  The 'Play Safe' Campaign is designed as an ongoing, long-term intervention aimed at changing risky behaviours amongst the gay community. The project is co-ordinated by OUT's Trudie Morkel. The 'Play Safe' Campaign comprised voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), substance abuse screening, risk reduction counselling, follow-up calls and referrals, all in the attempt to reduce the risk caused by the long term substance abuse and exposure. These services are provided at OUT's Johannesburg, Pretoria, Mamelodi, Nelspruit and Mafikeng sites. Additionally, as a part of the campaign, the VCT is also conducted in participating night clubs. For example Pretoria’s Legends is one of the clubs that has supported OUT’s programmatic work since its inception. In the last two years, a total of 1 446 men have been reached through outreach programmes and 667 men have been tested as a part of the Campaign, demonstrating the community's interest in the project.

At the World AIDS Day event held at Legends night club, the 2009 Play Safe prize winners were announced. The mystery prize included an all-expenses paid weekend away for two. The winners were Charles Fieldhouse, and Christo Engelbrecht and Mark Stoker.

The World AIDS Day commemoration signalled OUT's ongoing dedication to fighting the HIV epidemic. OUT is continuing the campaign in 2010, hoping to reach more and more members of the gay community.

Main picture: Charles Fieldhouse (overall winner) with OUT’s Elmie Munday; top inset: Christo Engelbrecht, bottom inset: Mark Stoker