IOM and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) are this week to launch Ripfumelo, a new programme in South
Africa focusing on HIV prevention and care for commercial farm
workers in three districts in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Ripfumelo, which means "believe" in xiTsonga, will be rolled out
in Musina where the commericial agricultural sector employs a large
number of seasonal workers, many of whom are cross-border
migrants.

The Musina Local Municipality has experienced an increase in the
number of migrants over the past year which has stretched the
already overburdened health system and created a breeding ground
for other communicable diseases.

"Farm workers are more vulnerable to HIV because of the
transitional nature of their lifestyle and it is partnerships such
as these within Ripfumelo that enable us to address the contextual
background of this vulnerability," adds Mathata Madibane, Project
Development Specialist at USAID.

The programme, Ripfumelo, will begin with a seminar this week
for government officials and civil society in Musina on increasing
migrants' access to health services as well as finding solutions to
challenges relating to their health. It will be co-hosted by IOM
and the Musina Local Municipality, in close collaboration with the
Provincial Department of Health and Social Development and Limpopo
Office of the Premier.

The three-year USD 5.1 million USAID-funded project aims to
provide sustainable HIV prevention and care services to farm
workers by developing a network of stakeholders working
specifically on HIV-related issues to reduce the high incidence and
impact of AIDS on farm workers, their families and communities.

For more information please contact:

Nosipho Theyise

IOM Pretoria

Tel: +27 12 342 2789

Email: "mailto:ntheyise@iom.int">ntheyise@iom.int