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World AIDS Day was commemorated in Flagstaff on 1 December 2025 with a major community screening event held at the Flagstaff Town Hall. The Ingquza Hill Local Municipality Health and Wellness Screening Programme partnered with the SA Military Health Services and the Department of Health to deliver free services to local residents. The event brought HIV testing, nutrition education, mental-health sessions, and substance-abuse awareness directly to the community.
What Happened
The World AIDS Day programme opened with remarks from Council Whip, Councillor. Mbongeni I. Nkungu, who welcomed residents and emphasised the importance of early testing.
“We encourage everyone to test so they can know their status and act early,” he said.
While speeches continued inside the hall, several workstations operated simultaneously. Residents accessed HIV testing, TB screening, blood-pressure checks, nutrition advice, and mental-health support. Health teams also provided information on substance abuse and chronic-illness management.
The local theme for the event was “Your Health, Your Wealth.” Globally, World AIDS Day 2025 focused on “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
Community Impact
Residents welcomed the outreach as many struggle to reach distant clinics. Health workers noted that combining screenings with education leads to earlier intervention and fewer preventable illnesses.
