Fife raises £1000 for South African HIV group

by Roddy Cameron

Fife branch presented £500 to Alec Deary of the Fife Men project on World Aids Day (Friday 1 December) for the South African HIV group Wola Nani.

Alec Deary, Fife Men co-ordinator and UNISON Fife branch voluntary sector convenor, said "Together with funds raised by the project this donation means that for the third year running £1000 will go to South Africa."

Supporting Fife Men's World Aids Day event, UNISON Fife focused on the role of members in tackling the stigma and discrimination still associated with HIV. Shop stewards were supplied with up-to date information and posters about ending prejudice in the workplace.

Branch Secretary Linda Erskine said, "Wola Nani told us that 900 people a day die of HIV related infections in South Africa and on World Aids Day alone 50 new referrals had been made to the agency!"

For several years now Fife branch has linked with the Fife Men Project to support Wola Nani - Xhosa for 'we embrace and develop one another' - established in 1994 as a non-profit organisation to help bring relief to the communities hardest hit by the HIV crisis.

Formed against a background of cuts in welfare spending and huge increases in HIV/AIDS cases, Wola Nani initiated programmes to help HIV+ people in the local community cope with the emotional and financial strains brought about by HIV and AIDS. Especially HIV+ women and their children who bear the brunt of the national pandemic.

More information about the branch support for Wola Nani is on the branch website www.unison-fife.org.uk

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