Special Session on AIDS
25 April 2006
The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, leaves South Africa
today to begin her extensive international programme, which includes meetings
in Moscow, Abuja, Geneva and New York where the United Nations General Assembly
Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV and AIDS will be held from 31 May to 2
June.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang's programme commences with an address to the G8
Healthcare Ministerial meeting to be held in Moscow, Russia, from 27 to 28
April. Tshabalala-Msimang is among five Health Ministers from non-G8 countries
that are invited to attend this meeting. The others are Ministers of Health of
Brazil, India, China and Mexico.
The meeting will discuss the global response to infectious diseases that
poses serious threat to development including HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB),
Malaria and emerging diseases like Avian flu.
"As the only Health Minister from the African continent who will attend this
meeting, it is critical that I do not only represent the interest of South
Africa but also the aspirations of my continent. We have to ensure that this
group of developed countries understand the health challenges facing Africa and
how these challenges have to be addressed," said Minister
Tshabalala-Msimang.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang will then proceed from Moscow to Abuja, Nigeria,
where she will attend the Special Summit of the African Union on HIV and AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria that takes place from 1 to 4 May.
The Summit will review progress in the implementation of the Abuja
Declaration on HIV and AIDS, TB and other related infectious diseases, which
were adopted by the African Heads of States and Governments in 2001.
The expected outcome of the Abuja meeting is an accelerated
action-orientated commitment towards universal access to comprehensive services
for these diseases. The Abuja meeting will seek to achieve an African common
position for the UN Special Session on AIDS in New York.
From 22 to 27 May, Minister Tshabalala-Msimang will lead the South African
delegation to the annual World Health Assembly to be held in Geneva. The
Assembly will discuss a number of issues affecting the health sector, including
both infectious and non-infectious diseases.
From 31 May to 2 June, Minister Tshabalala-Msimang will be part of the
country-delegation to the UNGASS on HIV and AIDS.
"We have to engage in this international programme to ensure that we shape
the global response to these diseases. This response has to be relevant to our
conditions of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa. We have to push our
developmental agenda which is the only sustainable solution to the health
challenges facing Africa," said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Ministry of Health
25 April 2006
