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MINISTER of Local Government and Housing Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini yesterday announced a special partnership between the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV and AIDS at the Local Level (AMICAALL) and Standard Bank.
This partnership will lead to an Urban Legend Awards Programme and Ceremony to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions made by volunteers, local leaders, businesses, churches, partners and community members to the urban AIDS response in Swaziland. It will also serve to encourage increased involvement, ownership and support at the local level.
Pastor Dlamini said HIV and AIDS was affecting every citizen, resulting in the loss of loved ones. She, therefore, urged everyone to come to the fore and help organisations such as AMICAALL.
Delivery
“Local government, being closest to the people, has an increasingly important role to play in the HIV and AIDS response and service delivery,” said the minister.
She applauded AMICAALL for its commitment and assistance in supporting local government in the fight against the pandemic. She noted the hard work made by the organisation in facilitating the provision of basic services and key information in all the kingdom’s 12 official cities and towns.
She further applauded volunteers and communities, business people, local leaders and partners who supported the efforts to address the pandemic in urban areas. “At this point, we e acknowledge and commend Standard Bank’s leadership for their positive corporate social responsibility policy in the kingdom, and today, we thank them for their contribution towards the Urban Legend Awards Programme & Ceremony” she said.
The minister said government encourages other corporate citizens to take example from Standard Bank’s lead and increase their involvement and support towards the fight against HIV and AIDS in the country.
Support
Pastor Dlamini called upon everyone to support the awards and nominate individuals, teams and organisations that have gone the extra mile to contribute to the AMICAALL programme and urban AIDS response, “tandla tiyagezana (for the common good).
She also encouraged everyone, to help Swaziland overcome the challenges of the pandemic. “While many people make significant contributions to helping others and developing their communities, the urban AIDS response still faces significant challenges that need to be urgently addressed to ensure effective implementation, management and coordination of local (and national) programmes, and ultimately the impact of these programmes on the health and productivity of Swazi citizens and communities” said Wilton Mamba, Urban Legend Judging Panel Member, when introducing the Awards Programme.
Challenges
Mamba said some of the challenges faced by the urban AIDS response include significantly and consistently higher HIV prevalence rates; lower levels of social cohesion and connectedness in urban areas, high attrition and low levels of motivation among community volunteers, limited support from local leadership and ownership by urban communities, generally limited involvement of community members, businesses and churches as well as limited commitment of partners to coordination and joint planning.
He said the Urban Legend Awards would be conducted annually with 2009 being the inaugural year. “Twenty-nine awards will be presented in five categories that being Volunteer Spirit, Teamwork, City or Town Programmes, Local Leadership, Community Development and Partnership.
He said award recipients would be selected by an independent judging panel following the public nomination process and a review of routine reports and information generated by the AMICAALL programme.
The judging panel comprises of Stella Lukhele (former Minister of Housing and Urban Government),
Thandi Dlamini (former Director of Red Cross Swaziland), Sammy Dlamini (Head of Marketing, Standard Bank), Zelda Nhlabatsi (FLAS Programmes Manager) and Wilton Mamba (Communications Consultant).
He said the top three nominees under each category would be invited to attend an exciting ceremony where the final recipients will be announced and awards presented. The ceremony will be held in August 08th 2009 at the Mavuso Trade Centre. Mamba said; “For some time, we have awarded our farmers, business people and beauty queens, yet we seem to have forgotten the people, teams and organisations that make significant contributions and sacrifices to help others and bring about social development in our communities; we hope this programme can begin to highlight the importance of these efforts”.
Brand
“Our brand essence is making a real difference in the areas we are operating in and as such we believe that this program will inspire everyone to take action and be involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Nominations closes July
Standard Bank Head of marketing Sammy Dlamini says the launched award nominations will close on July 19th.
He said nomination forms can be obtained from the AMICAALL National Office in Manzini, at the Lamvelase health centre and from the local AMICAALL offices (based in the different municipal council Offices).
This partnership will lead to an Urban Legend Awards Programme and Ceremony to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions made by volunteers, local leaders, businesses, churches, partners and community members to the urban AIDS response in Swaziland. It will also serve to encourage increased involvement, ownership and support at the local level.
Pastor Dlamini said HIV and AIDS was affecting every citizen, resulting in the loss of loved ones. She, therefore, urged everyone to come to the fore and help organisations such as AMICAALL.
Delivery
“Local government, being closest to the people, has an increasingly important role to play in the HIV and AIDS response and service delivery,” said the minister.
She applauded AMICAALL for its commitment and assistance in supporting local government in the fight against the pandemic. She noted the hard work made by the organisation in facilitating the provision of basic services and key information in all the kingdom’s 12 official cities and towns.
She further applauded volunteers and communities, business people, local leaders and partners who supported the efforts to address the pandemic in urban areas. “At this point, we e acknowledge and commend Standard Bank’s leadership for their positive corporate social responsibility policy in the kingdom, and today, we thank them for their contribution towards the Urban Legend Awards Programme & Ceremony” she said.
The minister said government encourages other corporate citizens to take example from Standard Bank’s lead and increase their involvement and support towards the fight against HIV and AIDS in the country.
Support
Pastor Dlamini called upon everyone to support the awards and nominate individuals, teams and organisations that have gone the extra mile to contribute to the AMICAALL programme and urban AIDS response, “tandla tiyagezana (for the common good).
She also encouraged everyone, to help Swaziland overcome the challenges of the pandemic. “While many people make significant contributions to helping others and developing their communities, the urban AIDS response still faces significant challenges that need to be urgently addressed to ensure effective implementation, management and coordination of local (and national) programmes, and ultimately the impact of these programmes on the health and productivity of Swazi citizens and communities” said Wilton Mamba, Urban Legend Judging Panel Member, when introducing the Awards Programme.
Challenges
Mamba said some of the challenges faced by the urban AIDS response include significantly and consistently higher HIV prevalence rates; lower levels of social cohesion and connectedness in urban areas, high attrition and low levels of motivation among community volunteers, limited support from local leadership and ownership by urban communities, generally limited involvement of community members, businesses and churches as well as limited commitment of partners to coordination and joint planning.
He said the Urban Legend Awards would be conducted annually with 2009 being the inaugural year. “Twenty-nine awards will be presented in five categories that being Volunteer Spirit, Teamwork, City or Town Programmes, Local Leadership, Community Development and Partnership.
He said award recipients would be selected by an independent judging panel following the public nomination process and a review of routine reports and information generated by the AMICAALL programme.
The judging panel comprises of Stella Lukhele (former Minister of Housing and Urban Government),
Thandi Dlamini (former Director of Red Cross Swaziland), Sammy Dlamini (Head of Marketing, Standard Bank), Zelda Nhlabatsi (FLAS Programmes Manager) and Wilton Mamba (Communications Consultant).
He said the top three nominees under each category would be invited to attend an exciting ceremony where the final recipients will be announced and awards presented. The ceremony will be held in August 08th 2009 at the Mavuso Trade Centre. Mamba said; “For some time, we have awarded our farmers, business people and beauty queens, yet we seem to have forgotten the people, teams and organisations that make significant contributions and sacrifices to help others and bring about social development in our communities; we hope this programme can begin to highlight the importance of these efforts”.
Brand
“Our brand essence is making a real difference in the areas we are operating in and as such we believe that this program will inspire everyone to take action and be involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Nominations closes July
Standard Bank Head of marketing Sammy Dlamini says the launched award nominations will close on July 19th.
He said nomination forms can be obtained from the AMICAALL National Office in Manzini, at the Lamvelase health centre and from the local AMICAALL offices (based in the different municipal council Offices).
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