Many important religious festivals and holy days dominate this time of year.

Examinations loom uppermost in the minds of all students. Plans for long-awaited holidays gather momentum, and it’s easy to forget that critical and long-term challenges remain.

World AIDS Day on 1st December serves to remind us that we are all affected by the epidemic.

Risk analyses, education drives, surveillance testing, prevention and treatment initiatives all have a role to play in reducing the infection rate.

Changing attitudes to the epidemic however, still remains crucial. Many South Africans are still of the opinion that this is a disease reserved for "Black people and Homosexuals."

If you are looking to kick-start or revitalise your HIV/AIDS Management Programme, consider launching the event with a guest speaker who knows what they’re talking about when it comes to living with HIV/AIDS.

Tyrone Arthur is an award-winning photographer at a daily newspaper in Johannesburg. He’s talented, hard-working, healthy, heterosexual and HIV Positive. Now 41, Tyrone discovered that he was HIV Positive when he was 27. A committed Christian, Tyrone is frank and open about living positively. He has written a book about his experiences and has given numerous presentations to school children and large Corporates. His message is hard-hitting, honest and inspirational. His motto: ‘Where there is breath there is hope”

Bronwyn X is 26 and married to a man who is HIV Positive. Bronwyn is HIV Negative. Her husband has recently had his employment terminated as a result of his status. A qualified nursery school teacher, Bronwyn herself has been discriminated against in the job market. Despite the prejudice that she has had endure, Bronwyn remains positive and passionate about helping others in a similar situation. She has qualified as a Peer Educator and Lay Counsellor, featured in a television documentary, magazine articles and has conducted numerous motivational speeches for various organisations.