Programme Director,
Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Counsellor James Nxumalo,
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa,
The MECs of Health,
Conference Chairperson; Prof Koleka Mlisana,
The Chairperson of the Board of Dira Sengwe, Professor Coovadia,
The CEO of the Foundation for Professional Development, Dr Gustaaf Wolvaardt,
The UNAIDS Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Professor Sheila Tlou,
Representatives of the Development Community,
The CEO of SANAC, Dr Fareed Abdullah and Members of the SANAC,
Distinguished guests and delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for the invitation to address this session of the 6th South African AIDS Conference. I have been informed that over the last few days you have engaged in discussions spanning all aspects of the HIV response not only in South Africa but also across the world.
This conference remains an important platform for the constant appraisal of our HIV/AIDS response as well as sharing emerging knowledge and information on the peculiar behaviour of the HI virus, the human body's response to it; and for identifying the necessary innovations needed in our health system.
More specifically, the conference is important for reflecting on the gains made and how best to remain on course towards meeting the universal targets of— zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.
As such "Building on Successes: (and) Integrating Systems,” is an apt theme that resonates with both the national and international discourse on how far the global community has come in responding to one of the most complex epidemics that confront humanity.
More importantly, the theme affords us the opportunity to dialogue and present many practical recommendations to deal with the broad spectrum of issues that impact on the country's development agenda.
Thirty years after the discovery of the HI virus, the world stands at a critical point where we seem tantalizingly close to declaring victory. As a country, we have made significant inroads in our response and have begun to see the impact of our policies and strategies.
Many among us are familiar with the reports discussed in this conference which tell us how far we have gone in the intervention against HIV as well as indicating what needs to be done to shift our efforts to a higher trajectory.
At this point, we should recognise the global successes in the fight against HIV as evidenced by the latest Report of the UN Secretary General, which indicates that the number of people with access to treatment has increased by 63% globally and that AIDS-related deaths are decreasing in countries where HIV has the strongest grip.
The same report cautions us all not to become complacent because even though so much progress has been made, much more remains to be done. This is true for South Africa where we continue to grapple with many other challenges that confront our efforts to build a united and prosperous nation.
You will know that South Africa's National Development Plan contextualises the extent of these challenges that require strategic approaches to attain the country's 20-year implementation vision.
It is important to reinforce the interrelatedness of the various issues we are addressing and the centrality of health as a pre-requisite for development. Our development agenda requires a healthy populace; health is a priority precisely because of this imperative.
The National Development Plan defines in great detail what needs to be done in each aspect of the sectors ranging from education, health, the economy, social cohesion and many other facets of our society.
We therefore do not have the luxury to spend more time planning. Whilst acknowledging the gaps identified in the plan, our next step is to proceed with implementation even as we refine and align some of the gaps that have been identified.
So far we have made huge progress across many of the priorities that have been identified in our development agenda. Equally we have acknowledged that government needs to improve systems of delivery in health care, education, water, sanitation and other social services.
Our point of departure continues to be a people-centred, rights-based approach to effecting service delivery. As government we are engaged with our social partners and have established strategic partnerships with the private sector, and define a common vision and an approach that builds on the comparative advantage of each stakeholder. We also need better integration and co-ordination across government in order to maximise our efficiencies.
Against this background government is working hard to bring about a radical shift in mind sets and behaviours to enhance service delivery. We seek to ensure that managers are equipped with the skills and tools to manage and innovate, systems are strengthened and accountability measures are put in place.
At the local level such management systems do not need to be complicated. The Sukuma Sakhe Programme led by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has been identified as among leading examples of good models. This model brings together the community, local leaders from all sectors, different government departments, civil society and local government with the aim of addressing the needs of the community and households.
At the core of all our efforts is the consciousness that the people come first. In effect this means a political attitude defines our approach to the work we do. Such an attitude requires a broad appreciation of the interconnection between our mandates and those of other departments and sectors.
A manager with a sharp political attitude always asks the question; what am I trying to achieve, how will I get to where I am headed, how does my work and that of my team impact on the work of others and how can I collaborate with relevant partners to enhance what I am doing and maximise the impact of my programme.
Programme Director;
There is convergence in the recommendations and guidance emerging from the global discourse on the post-2015 development agenda and those from the UN Secretary General with regard to accelerating progress towards the attainment of the targets of the 2011 Political Declaration.
In my view, these recommendations apply not only to HIV but to all the efforts to attain all the other targets in the Millennium Development Goals Framework broadly.
Some of the recommendations include:
- Mobilising resources to close the global AIDS resource gap;
- Strategic allocation of resources using a results-based approach;
- Prioritising the most marginalised;
- Intelligent use of data to plan, review, refine and evaluate impact;
- People-centered, community-led interventions;
- Deploying new technologies; and
- Relentless focus on accountability.
We have learnt from the dual epidemics of HIV and TB. In addition to the scientific knowledge and all the biomedical intelligence we have acquired, the response has provided a unique opportunity for us to confront our own human frailties, our inconsistencies, our fears, stigma and discrimination.
It has taught us how to reach out to one another across sectors, race and class. It continues to open space for us to dialogue with our children on issues we would never be comfortable talking about. It brings us closer as a people as well as unites us in our quest to stem the tide of new infections.
We must apply these lessons to many other social ills and challenges that continue to confront our nation using all the tools and technologies at our disposal. This community must reach out to others to infuse a sense of urgency in our national efforts across all sectors. We have come a long way.
I want to thank all those who have contributed to the progress. I also wish to say a special word of thanks to the UN family, particularly Mr Michael Sedibe, all the development partners, foundations, philanthropists, the private sector and all the sectors represented in the co-ordinating structures from the local to the national levels.
In addition, let me commend all the delegates who have contributed to the success of this conference. To you I say keep up the good work and continue with it in your communities. Lastly, I wish to thank people living with HIV, whose lived experience has been invaluable in the fight against the pandemic.
I thank you!
