KwaZulu-Natal Government making history in the fight against HIV and AIDS
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Senzo Mchunu has hailed the handing over of the Operation Sukuma Sakhe Publication by the UNAIDS as an historic and exciting day in the history of the fight against HIV and Aids in KwaZulu-Natal province.
“In launching Operation Sukuma Sakhe Publication, we are marking an important milestone in the struggle against this pandemic. Clearly what the Executive Director of the UNAIDS and the National Minister of Health have just presented shows that what is being launched today offers enormous benefit for South Africa and for the people right throughout the Sub-Saharan Africa where HIV and AIDS is wreaking havoc.”
“This publication represents a huge endeavour on the part of the UNAIDS. It is a tribute to your ability to work with communities to create a new world order. On behalf of provincial government, I would like to congratulate UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sedibe and every one at the UNAIDS on a job well done.”
“I also want to pay tribute to the civil servants, health professionals, mayors and councillors, NGOs, traditional leaders, religious leaders, big business and more importantly, to the ordinary members of society who have taken upon themselves to be at the forefront of the fight against HIV and AIDS through Operation Sukuma Sakhe.”
“In fact, it is fair to say that KwaZulu-Natal is on the brink of the greatest period of grassroots mobilisation in the fight against this pandemic. In line with the national government, when we started this term of office, we identified health as a priority, particularly because of the deteriorating health outcomes, largely as a result of increasing burden of disease which have created a strain on the health services in various hospitals across the province.”
“The major burden of disease that has reached epidemic proportions as emphasised by the National Health Minister involves the four epidemics: HIV and AIDS and Tuberculosis; Diseases of lifestyle - hypertension, cancers, diabetes, etc; Maternal and Child Mortality; Trauma - motor accidents and violence.”
Operation Sukuma Sakhe about people on the ground
“As the provincial government we re-launched Operation Sukuma Sakhe a grassroots campaign aimed at achieving behavioural change because most of these are easily preventable. We called on communities to stand up and join government to rebuild the fabric of our society. We are saying that together with government, communities must work hard to confront social ills such teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, HIV and Aids and TB, poverty and food insecurity.”
“Importantly, Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) has ensured the integration and joint delivery of departmental programmes and services in War Rooms across the province. Ordinary members of society are given the opportunity to monitor the speed in the delivery of such services and are part of all efforts aimed at finding solutions to local challenges.”
“Given the history of our country where non-participatory governance supported the logic of apartheid, it is important that the practice of community participation is promoted. Community participation creates an environment of hope amongst all our people that their lives will get better. As far as government is concerned, a generation of hope and confidence amongst all of our people will help build a prosperous and brighter future.”
For more information:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, Premier’s Spokesperson
Cell: 082 3754742
E-mail: ndabezinhlesibiya@yahoo.com
