14 August 2006
Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang officially opened the South
African Government exhibition stand at the 16th International AIDS Conference
which started in Toronto, Canada yesterday (13 August).
South Africa has arguably, the biggest and most comprehensive programme on
HIV and AIDS and the stand reflects the variety of interventions being made
with the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS
in South Africa. On display are:
* information materials about the Comprehensive Plan on HIV and AIDS
* about 12 000 male and female condoms distributed freely to delegates
* nutritional supplements, fruits and vegetables
* anti-retroviral drugs.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang is part of a high level South African delegation
to the conference, which includes Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya,
Correctional Services Deputy Minister Loretta Jacobus and at least four
provincial MECs (Health MEC Sakhiwo Belot and Education MEC Mantsheng Tsopo,
both from Free State, Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomsa Jajula and Western Cape
Health MEC Pierre Uys).
The conference is being held under a theme: âTime to deliverâ.
Speaking at the official opening of the stand, Minister Tshabalala-Msimang
said that it was time for the world to deliver on the global commitments made
towards addressing poverty and underdevelopment, and work towards universal
access to HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment programmes by 2010.
âThe international community has made various commitments encompassed in the
Millennium Development Goals and other global resolutions to address the
challenges of poverty and support development efforts in poor regions of the
world. The time has come for the long-standing commitments such as debt relief,
fair global trade environment and the pledge by the OECD (Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development) member states to commit 0.7 percent of
gross national income for official development assistance to be fulfilled. It
is time to deliver,â said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
She said progress in the implementation of these resolutions will
significantly boost the ability to meet the commitments made at United Nations
(UN) High Level meeting on HIV and AIDS, held in New York in May this year.
UNAIDS estimates that between 20 and 23 billion US dollars are needed annually
to attain commitments made in New York with regard to universal access to
prevention, care and treatment by 2010, particularly in low- and middle-income
countries.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang urged the Toronto Conference not to forget that
the New York meeting also acknowledged the social determinants of health as
crucial in addressing the challenge of the spread of HIV infection and the
impact of AIDS.
âThese are issues that were highlighted by our President, President Thabo
Mbeki, during his address to this conference in Durban six years ago. He urged
us to not only address HIV and AIDS as a medical problem but also deal with the
underlying factors such as poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, gender
inequality and illiteracy,â said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
âBecause we are convinced of the urgent need to intensify delivery, we have
tripled the budget allocation for the Comprehensive Plan on HIV and AIDS over
the last four years from just over R1 billion in 2002 to R3,5 billion in 2005,â
said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
The plan emphasises prevention interventions which have led to a very high
level of awareness about HIV and AIDS amongst South Africans ranging between
92-98 percent. Government distributes free high quality condoms. Male condom
distribution was at 346 million in 2004 and female condom distribution doubled
from 1,3 in 2003 to 2,6 million in 2004 and is expected to increase to 3
million this year.
The Report on the National HIV and Syphilis Antenatal Sero-prevalence Survey
released last month indicates that HIV prevalence rates for 2004 and 2005 are
very similar (estimated at 5,5million).
âThe prevalence profile continues to confirm the expectation and projections
of numerous groups whose models suggest that South Africa will begin to see a
decline in the prevalence profile. The studies conducted over the years show
that intervention programmes, which emphasise prevention, have a very important
role in moderating HIV prevalence and the epidemiology of HIV infections in
general,â said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
She urged the conference to pay particular attention to issues of prevention
especially since this year has been declared the year of accelerated prevention
by the African region of the World Health Organisation.
Reporting on the progress made in South Africaâs response to HIV and AIDS,
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang said that 89 percent of public health facilities
were providing voluntary counselling and HIV testing services.
Government provides a number of interventions to delay the progression from
HIV infection to the development of AIDS defining illnesses, and to maintain
optimal health for people living with HIV and AIDS. This includes healthy
lifestyle awareness campaigns which encourage regular physical activity and
nutritious diet particularly vegetables and fruits. At least 374 000 people
have also benefited from the provision of nutritional supplementation by
Government.
Most of the vulnerable children are receiving social support and have free
access to health services and education.
Rigorous treatment of opportunistic infections is available at most health
facilities. Government is also encouraging research and development of African
traditional medicines that are effective in alleviating symptoms associated
with HIV and AIDS, by boosting the immune system.
A tender to the value of R3,4 billion is in place for procurement of
antiretroviral drugs for the period to the end of 2007. All 53 districts and 72
percent of local municipalities in the country have accredited service points
for providing antiretroviral therapy.
âThere are indeed challenges which we are continuously trying to address,
particularly with regard to monitoring and evaluation of our programmes. We are
making efforts to expand this programme to record patients that have exited the
programme, adherence and adverse events. There is also a need to work with both
non-profit and for-profit private sectors to ensure the harmonisation of
indicators,â said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
The South African delegation will use this conference to learn from
presentations on the interventions and research advances being made in various
parts of the world and share South Africaâs experiences in addressing HIV and
AIDS.
âWe hope this exhibition will assist in highlighting the progress we are
making towards curbing the spread of HIV infection and reducing the impact of
AIDS in our society. We have tried to ensure that this exhibition represents
the series of interventions being made in addressing HIV and AIDS - from
prevention, care and support which includes good nutrition as well as treatment
programmes,â said Minister Tshabalala-Msimang.
For further information, please contact
Sibani Mngadi
Spokesperson for the Minister of Health
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Ministry of Health
14 August 2006
