P Mlambo-Ngcuka: Department of Defence HIV and AIDS conference

12 November 2007

Theme: "The Impact of HIV and AIDS on Combat Readiness"

Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr George
Surgeon-General Ramlakan
Chief of the South African National Defence Force
Southern African Development Community representatives
Officers and non-commissioned officers
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

This first HIV and AIDS conference hosted by the South African Department of
Defence is an historic event, with which I am happy to be associated. It brings
together local and international expertise, care-givers and officials at an
important time in South Africa.

This gathering underscores the fact that the fight against HIV and AIDS, on
our continent, must have an integrated, holistic and unified approach. The
Defence Force plays a crucial role in society. Our uniformed personnel are
there to fulfil many tasks such as being 'combat ready' to guarantee the
security and territorial integrity of our countries. At all times, they need to
be a healthy fighting force so that they can discharge their duties in
peace-keeping missions on the continent and manage conflicts and crises
wherever they may arise.

We know that the majority of people in the world living with and affected by
HIV and AIDS are in sub-Saharan Africa. As Africans, we cannot afford to be
defeated by HIV and AIDS. As Africans, together, we fought hard against
colonialism, against apartheid including many other enemies that threatened the
continent. In many instances we were victorious. It is, therefore, important,
that we adopt the same attitude in this case.

In South Africa many of our uniformed personnel are also impacted upon by
this epidemic. One of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is
to halt and reverse the incidences of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. In this
case, we should also take this victorious posture.

To achieve this goal, we need to reinforce our prevention, treatment and
care measures. I am very happy, Surgeon-General, for the theme and tone of this
conference which is about an "AIDS Free Defence force". If we were to achieve
this within the forces, the battle psychologically and otherwise will be won in
the broader society. I, therefore, would like to pledge my support in this
battle to achieve these noble plans.

We need to reinforce on prevention, because the most important intervention
that we have at our disposal to make sure that we work towards an HIV and AIDS
free Defence Force in the continent is to prevent the spread in the first
place.

Of course, we do need to be concerned about looking after people who are
infected the through provision of adequate treatment; we need to make sure
that, there are enough care measures in place. We also need to invest both the
intellect and resources on research and development. We need to focus on human
rights and fight against stigma and discrimination. Lastly, we need to place
adequate focus on human resource development. In the National Strategic Plan
(NSP) for HIV and AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) for 2007 to
2011 in South Africa these are some of the challenges identified as critical
for the plan to succeed.

Those in the Defence Force tend to be even more vulnerable to infection as
it could be related to the fact that part of the recruitment drive is aimed at
the most sexually active age group which is 18 to 25. There is, therefore, a
need for the Department of Defence, to be concerned about this age group,
because people in this age group undergo various social pressures including
peer pressure. These soldiers are then deployed in distant places therefore
disconnected from their families and loved ones. Some soldiers on deployment
are more likely to have irresponsible behaviour that may have negative effects
on their lives.

South Africa has taken the fight against HIV and AIDS to the fore in all of
its programmes. Earlier this year we restructured the South African National
AIDS Council (Sanac). The second giant step was the adoption of the National
Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV and AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs)
for 2007 to 2011.

The South African National AIDS Council is a national partnership, which
includes churches, health workers, non-government organisations, church-based
organisation, business, traditional healers and government. We have all come
together to fight the scourge of HIV and AIDS. In Sanac, we emphasise action,
as embodied in our National Strategic Plan (NSP).

In our National Strategic Plan, we emphasise the need to address a number of
factors on the fight against HIV and AIDS:

* gender violence
* economic well-being
* education of girls and women
* fast-tracking and easy access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) for pregnant
women
* prevention of mother-to-child transmission with added focus on caring for
mothers
* using scientific evidence, such as this conference, to map out and revise
strategies.

In addition, the 2007 to 2011 NSP seeks to provide continued guidance to all
government departments, including the military, as well as civil society;
reduce the rates of new infections by 50 percent by 2011, and, in particular to
target young people for preventive interventions based on behavioural
changes.

To deal with this challenge adequately and effectively, we need to know more
about HIV and identify risk factors among military populations and to do this
successfully, we need to access more data. More importantly, it calls upon us
to enhance military-to-military co-operation and sustained regional
civil-military partnerships.

I am greatly encouraged that the South African National Defence Force
(SANDF) has embarked on preventive programmes such as Masibambisane, the
Chaplins Service, a value-based ethical programme, plus their Combating Aids
through Spiritual and Ethical Conduct (CHATSEC). However, more needs to be done
to arrest this worldwide challenge.

Our commitment as the South Africa government is to 'create a better life
for all' our people. For this reason, we decided to allocate R2,1 billion to
step up the HIV and AIDS programme including R400 million for prevention of
multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

We all need to continue advising young recruits to abstain from risky
behaviour. The "know your status" campaign must be intensified in the promotion
of an ethos of a healthy life style. HIV and AIDS prevention programmes must be
incorporated into general training.

Always the message in our campaigns should call upon everyone to take
personal responsibility for both one's own health and that of others so that
gradually there is a positive mindset shift. That is why I continuously
say:

* If you are HIV negative stay negative.
* If you are already living with the virus, do not infect others.
* Again, if you are HIV positive do not re-infect yourself by having
unprotected sex.
* It is a personal responsibility that needs no other resources except personal
responsibility.

Uniformed personnel and their families have access to the some of the best
health care facilities in the world at their military hospitals, clinics and
sickbays. This includes creating environments where there is no stigma and
discrimination attached for those afflicted with this disease.

The South African government underlines the United Nations Programme on HIV
and AIDS (UNAIDS) position that HIV-positive individuals in the military should
be given every opportunity to do the tasks for which they have been trained and
which they are still fit to perform. Armed forces should be prepared to provide
care and support for personnel and family members living with HIV and AIDS,
including continuity of care as they return to civilian life.

I call on the South African National Defence Force to inculcate ethical and
moral values within your training programmes. This will, therefore, become an
integral part of your well being to ensure that morality is at the heart of the
well-being of each and every soldier, and the institution of the SANDF.

I call upon you to honour your uniforms and to serve your countries and the
continent with pride and loyalty. All of us together have the power to defeat
this disease. It all begins with you!

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
12 November 2007
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)