KZN to host first Aids Youth Conference

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana will lead his department in hosting the inaugural Higher Education and Training Youth Conference in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.

The department said the four-day conference, which will be held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), will host over 1800 young people from across the country, including learners from schools, universities, TVET colleges and communities.

The HEAIDS Youth Conference will hold discussions around youth economic empowerment, social inequality, HIV, STIs, TB, general health and other challenges affecting them.

The Presidency also confirmed that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African Aids Council (SANAC) and the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDCSA), will participate in the conference on Saturday.

“Deputy President Ramaphosa will engage with young people in an open dialogue on HIV, STIs, TB, general health, youth economic empowerment, social inequalities and other challenges affecting them,” said the Presidency.

HEAIDS is a national facility to develop and support the HIV mitigation programmes at South Africa's public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs).

The conference will be held under the theme “Ukuhlonyiswa Kwabasha” (Empowering the Youth).

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Buti Manamela, along with several other government ministers and a number of MECs of health are also expected to attend- SAnews.gov.za