Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe today chaired the first South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) plenary meeting of the year and hosted the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation, Former Presidents, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Festus Mogae of Botswana.
Also at the meeting were the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial AIDS Council led by Premier Zweli Mkhize, Members of his Executive Council, district mayors and heads of departments.
The extraordinary plenary was briefed by the SANAC CEO on the SANAC priorities for 2010 and 2011 and measures being taken to achieve the targets of the National Strategic Plan (NSP). These include the massive HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign to be launched in April and the intensified roll out and improvement of the anti retroviral (ARV) programme.
Since President Zuma’s announcements on World AIDS Day 2009 the public health system has been preparing to conduct mass HCT and expanded access to ARVs. Preparations are well underway and the process of integrating and decentralising health services to provide HIV and TB care is at an advanced stage. The launch date of the HCT campaign, which will run in every health facility in the country, will be announced shortly by the Minister of Health.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier and chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial AIDS Council, Dr Zweli Mkhize, shared with plenary the KwaZulu-Natal model for strengthening community interventions. This programme is designed to address the upstream factors such as poverty reduction and promoting healthier lifestyles that leave communities vulnerable to HIV. The programme is being championed across the province by senior provincial leadership with commitment extending down to the creation of ‘war rooms’ within each ward in the province. It offers a model for all Provinces in South Africa.
Involvement of community organisations and traditional leaders forms the backbone of KwaZulu-Natal model.
Former President Festus Mogae also gave his inputs to the plenary as the chair of the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation. He noted with approval the recent pronouncements by President Zuma on the government’s commitment to the fight on HIV and AIDS and shared that it is only through commitment and senior leadership taking responsibility that HIV will be overcome. Former President Chissano called on South Africa to provide global leadership on HIV and for better interaction between AIDS Councils of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to share experience and best practices.
SANAC and the Champions also hailed the announcement by King Goodwill Zwelithini that he has formally re-introduced male circumcision amongst the Zulu nation and commended the leadership of King Zwelithini for doing the extra-ordinary to protect his people in a time which requires extraordinary action.
The meeting noted and agreed on the plan to scale up HCT and committed to providing visible leadership in every sector of society to achieve the objective of each person knowing their HIV status, improved HIV prevention and lives saved through expanded access to treatment.
The day’s proceedings ended with a visit to the Caluza HCT Clinic where the Deputy President and the champions were afforded an opportunity to see one of the country’s most effective HIV prevention interventions unfolded at the point of service. Caluza Clinic is the second clinic in the country to offer free and voluntary medical male circumcision and is a located in the district with the highest HIV prevalence.
“I am satisfied with what I have seen here today and it has put into perspective what we were speaking about this morning, we are gaining momentum in our efforts to fight the pandemic,” said Deputy President Motlanthe.
Deputy President thanked the champions led by former presidents of Botswana and Mozambique for their support and solidarity. He committed the South African government to sustain an effective fight against HIV, AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) and all other efforts to improve the lives of South Africans.
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Issued by: The Presidency
5 March 2010
