provincial World Aids Day, Tlhabane Stadium, Rustenburg
1 December 2006
Programme Director
North West MEC for Health, Hon Nomonde Rasmeni
Other MECs present here today
Members of the North West Provincial Legislature present
Bojanala Platinum District Executive Mayor, Cllr R Motsepe
Rustenburg Executive Mayor, Cllr M Wolmarans
Mayors and Councillors
Kgosi Mabe and other esteemed Traditional Leaders present
Representatives of Religious Formations
Representatives of Organised Labour and the Business Community
All our partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS
Activists and people living with HIV
Distinguished guests
Community of Tlhabane
On this first day of the festive month of December, people throughout the
world gather in large numbers as we do, to observe World Aids Day. We remember
those who have succumbed to the disease and we pray for those who are infected
and live with the disease. We double our efforts at combating the further
spread of the disease among all communities through the process of caring and
making available preventative measures through information sharing.
Particularly, this year we observe this day under the theme: "Stop AIDS,
Recommit Yourself, Keep the Promise". It is very encouraging that all South
Africans are united against this common enemy and I therefore draw great
strength from the kind of unity that all our people are showing against HIV and
AIDS.
This unity in action gives us real hope that a world without AIDS is
possible, only if communities unite across race, gender or religion to increase
our collective response to this deadly disease by, among others, Abstaining,
Being faithful and Condomising.
We must ensure that as government together with our partners in the business
and social sectors we deliver on the promise of access to treatment, care and
prevention. I would like to appeal to our people to always remind one another
about the promises and the commitments we have made to fight and defeat HIV and
AIDS, hence the theme "Stop AIDS, Recommit Yourself, Keep the Promise."
Moreover, we would be committing a grave mistake if we do not address the
issue of poverty not only as it affects HIV and AIDS but also as it impacts on
the ability of our people to eat nutritiously and live healthy lifestyles. Both
good nutrition and regular exercise are essential in our strategy to arrest the
disease and prolong the lives of those who are already infected.
As you know, the exact number of people infected with HIV in the province is
not known because the available statistics comes from our Voluntary Counselling
and Testing (VCT), which is not sufficiently representative of the population
regarding the number of people infected.
Nonetheless a fair estimate of the rate of infection in the population is
the annual survey of pregnant women and according to this survey, there has
been a worrying fluctuation in the prevalence rate. In 2002, the prevalence
rate stood at 26,2%; it shot up to 29,9% in 2003; went down again to 26,7% in
2004 and the latest available information puts the prevalence at 31,8% in
2005.
This is a considerable cause for concern. We are asking ourselves whether
our messages are reaching the people and whether they are having the desired
impact. In this regard, the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) has
begun a process of reviewing the national HIV prevention plan and it will soon
be implemented with more urgency, commitment and a vigorously fresh direction
if needs be.
Ba gaetsho
Indeed, some of the most important promises to our people include both the
2001 and 2006 political declarations of the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) Special Sessions on HIV and AIDS. These include the development of
vaccines, new technological advancement and other preventative measures to
overcome this dreadful pandemic.
In addition, the dire need to encourage the development of public-private
partnerships as an effective response to HIV and AIDS cannot be over
emphasised. I am therefore pleased to say that this year SANAC has vowed to
strengthen the National Partnership against AIDS and send clear messages that
will assist our people to fight and manage the disease better. That is the
promise we have made to our people and that is the promise we will keep.
While there has been recorded progress in implementing our Comprehensive
Plan on the Management and Treatment of HIV and AIDS in all our districts, we
realise that there is still much more to do, to expand access to prevention,
treatment and care to turn the tide completely. United we stand, divided we
fall and it is of paramount importance that all of us make every effort to
develop partnerships and strengthen our fight against HIV and AIDS.
We believe that success in implementing the national HIV and AIDS plan
depends on leadership at every level of society as well as mobilisation and
co-operation across all our sectors, namely, government, labour, business;
health workers, scientists; communities, schools; non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), faith-based organisations (FBOs), community-based
organisations (CBOs), traditional leaders and in our respective work
stations.
In the fight against HIV and AIDS everyone should become a partner because
we know that we can only win against HIV and AIDS if we join hands to save our
people. Everybody has an important role to play. Join other South Africans,
assist other sectors by becoming active in the prevention, treatment and care
for people infected or affected by the disease.
Ladies and gentlemen
In May 2006 in Abuja, Nigeria, we made another important promise to our
people whereby the African Union (AU) Heads of States Abuja Declaration on HIV
and AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria endorsed the development of an
effective, affordable, accessible HIV vaccine relevant to Africa. This
endorsement lends enormous support to research and testing programmes intended
to develop a vaccine to combat HIV and AIDS.
We are very pleased to say that in the North West province the Aurum Health
vaccine trials are in progress and are fully supported by the Provincial
Government. However, it is interesting to note that while research towards an
AIDS vaccine was progressing well in the country as a whole, the latest report
by the Department of Health places North West as being the province with the
highest number of people who are voluntarily participating in counselling and
testing for HIV and AIDS.
I applaud the people of our province for this and would like to appeal to
young people to continue to get tested, to know their status and stay away from
risky behaviour at all times including the festive season. Another important
promise we made to our people was during the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) Resolution on Women and Girl Child where all Member States,
including our country South Africa, undertook to accelerate our efforts to
prevent and reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on our women and children.
I am very pleased that in South Africa we commemorate this day within our
campaign of 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children whereby the whole
nation is mobilised against any form of violence or abuse against the most
vulnerable members of our society, i.e. women and children. We know also that
these incidents of violence and abuse on women and children tend to increase in
the festive period as a result of the corresponding rising levels of alcohol
and drug abuse during this time.
I must therefore make my strongest appeal here today to men to stop abusing
our women and children. Do not be selfish and put your partner at the risk of
contracting HIV by sleeping with many other partners. Women should not be
forced into unprotected and unsafe sex. At the same time, I must express my
utmost appreciation of all those men who have taken the campaign against abuse
of women and children seriously within their communities and constituencies.
This is a clear message to all that real men do not abuse or violate women and
children.
Nevertheless, in closing I must say that governmentâs comprehensive
behaviour change programmes, driven by accurate public information about HIV
inclusive of support services will continue to form the cornerstone of our
prevention efforts. This gesture on the part of government and society as a
whole will therefore have an added importance during the festive season when
increased violence and risky behaviour make women more vulnerable.
I can therefore say without fear of contradiction that our comprehensive HIV
and AIDS treatment, care and prevention programme is bearing fruit and uniting
all South Africans across race, class, gender and all backgrounds. We are
convinced that together in a common partnership against HIV and AIDS, we can
make this world into a better place.
I would like to wish all of you a successful and impactful commemoration of
the World Aids Day.
STOP AIDS. RECOMMIT YOURSELF. KEEP THE PROMISE!
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
1 December 2006
