9 May 2007
The Department of Health co-ordinated the development of the National
Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS for 2007-2011 which serves as a framework for
South Africa's response to the major challenge of HIV/AIDS. The Plan has
already been adopted by cabinet and all sectors of society through the South
African National AIDS Council (SANAC). While the plan puts a responsibility on
all sectors to contribute to the response to HIV and AIDS and other sexually
transmitted infections, the Department of Health is charged with the
implementation of significant number of programmes that will enable the success
of this Strategic Plan.
The primary goal of the plan is to reduce the rate of new HIV infections and
mitigate the impact of AIDS on individuals, families and communities. The aim
is to achieve a 50% reduction in the rate of new infections and provide an
appropriate package of treatment, care and support services to at least 80% of
people living with HIV/AIDS and their families by 2011. To achieve this, we
need an intensive communication campaign that will encourage positive sexual
behaviour to prevent new HIV infections and mobilise access to care and support
services for those who are infected and affected.
Government HIV/AIDS communication brand, Khomanani, which mean Caring
Together, has been structured in a manner that supports our comprehensive
approach to the major challenge of HIV and AIDS. The tender for this
communication campaign valued at R190 million over two years has been awarded.
The tender has specific components dealing with the following focus
areas:
* accelerated HIV and aids prevention
* care, treatment and support
* nutrition and HIV/AIDS
* health promotion
* tuberculosis (TB) and HIV
The tender was advertised in November last year and 12 bids were received by
the closing date of 1 December 2006. The proposals were evaluated according to
the criteria in the tender specifications and four proposals were shortlisted.
These four applicants were requested to present their proposals to the
evaluation panel for further interrogation of their proposals on each of the
five components of the tender.
On all five components, the evaluation panel recommended Sizwe Ntsaluba
Khomanani Communication consortium and the panel's recommendation was approved
by the departmental Bid Committee. The consortium is made up of the following
four companies:
* Sizwe Ntsaluba VSP: programme governance and financial management
* Sadmon Projects and Consulting: project management and client services
* Izwi Multimedia: creation of media properties (radio, TV, etc)
* TBWA Hunt Lascaris: communication agency
This is the consortium that we will be working with over the next two years
in an effort to intensify our prevention interventions and enhance access to
treatment, care and support services for HIV/AIDS. This communication
initiative will also assist us in our broader Healthy Lifestyles Campaign and
in intensifying our TB control interventions.
This communication programme will encourage our people to maintain good
health through promotion of healthy lifestyle such as safe sexual behaviour,
good nutrition and regular physical activity. The programme will also
discourage risky behaviour such as tobacco use, irresponsible alcohol use and
substance abuse.
This communication initiative will be crucial in our effort to scale up care
and treatment interventions. It will raise awareness and encourage people to
access treatment, care and support services that are now available throughout
the country. Most importantly, it will re-enforce our efforts to ensure that
people who are on HIV or TB treatment adhere to their treatment in order to
address the challenge of drug resistance to both TB and HIV treatment. We have
developed a plan and we have set up the necessary structures. It is now time
for implementation.
Thank you.
For enquiries contact:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: Department of Health
9 May 2007
