The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) notes with great admiration the decline in HIV and AIDS prevalence across the country. We however are concerned that fewer people are on antiretrovirals as per the latest statistics that were issued by the Department of Health.
The commission has established a Thematic Committee that looks at the impact of gender and HIV and AIDS. A collective approach of defeating HIV and AIDS between government and civil society organisations is urgently needed. Although we send our heartfelt appreciation by the Minister of Health’s pronouncement that they will want to see 80 percent of HIV and AIDS suffers by 2011 on antiretrovirals, the Commission for Gender Equality will continue to monitor and evaluate if the figures mentioned will be attained. We believe it is the responsibility of every South African citizen and those that are within our borders to ensure that we live a responsible life thus ensuring healthy sexual practices in order to defeat the scourge of this pandemic.
It is also encouraging to note the responsiveness that is being demonstrated by a boy child and young men in ensuring that they use condoms in safeguarding their lives and that of their partners. Together, we can do more in ensuring that the scourge of HIV and AIDS is arrested for the betterment of the lives of many, who hope to see an HIV and AIDS free generation. We will as an institution in the near distant future launch our own report on monitoring the national and provincial HIV and AIDS plans. We continue to call both men and women to share the burden of HIV and AIDS together in ensuring those that are living with the disease are not discriminated against. The stigma and stereotyping around HIV and AIDS should be eradicated as we build on the good foundation that is being laid.
We call upon all South Africans to talk openly about the dangers of the diseases and how to encourage sexual active boys and girls to abstain until they are ready to engage in sexual acts. The Commission for Gender Equality will through radio campaigns, opinion pieces, education campaigns engage society and help build momentum in ensuring that both the boy and girl child, including young women and men receive the message that would be put across in so far as dealing with the plight of HIV and AIDS. As people we should leaned from others in trying to find best mechanisms that seek to address HIV and AIDS from spiralling out of country.
Commission for Gender Equality will most definitely support any initiative that will curb the scourge of HIV and AIDS from spiralling out of control. It is also our wish that robust awareness campaigns particularly in rural areas wherein patriarchy is still dominant be undertaken. We call on every citizen to take chare in particular for both men and women to share responsibility in fighting the disease bearing in mind that South Africa is one of the countries hit by the people living with HIV and AIDS in the sub-sahara. Together we can do whilst as institution continue to monitor the effectiveness of the national action plan on HIV and AIDS.
Issued by: Commission for Gender Equality
30 October 2009
