HIV/AIDS
29 June 2006
Local government in Gauteng is to play a leading role in establishing a
multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach to dealing with the HIV/AIDS
pandemic.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day Gauteng Local Government HIV/AIDS
Indaba, Gauteng Local Government MEC Qedani Mahlangu and Health MEC Brian
Hlongwa re-iterated the need for all spheres of government, civil society,
faith-based organisations, labour, business, non-governmental organisations,
student and youth organisations to forge strong partnerships to deal with the
pandemic which is ravaging our country, province and municipalities.
As the Youth Month celebrations draw to an end, Mahlangu said it is
befitting to end it by hosting the HIV and AIDS Indaba because this is a
challenge that is confronting the world, the continent, the province and
municipalities.
�A fundamental challenge to every individual and institution in the world,
on the continent and our country today is posed by the onslaught of this
pandemic and the devastating impact it has had on the fabric of society,�
Mahlangu said.
She said all South Africans should ask themselves how they were responding
to the challenges posed by the pandemic in the present and in future. �To do
so, we must build a clear understanding of the social, cultural, political and
economic aspects of the pandemic. Local government and municipalities in
particular are a central institution in our common response to the pandemic. It
is the sphere of government closest to communities, and has the potential to
unite the diverse actions of all stakeholders within a shared area of
impact.
�To play its role effectively, local government must lead in the
establishment of a multi-sectoral approach, which mainstreams our responses to
the pandemic, and which mobilises other spheres of government, communities and
other stakeholders in united action,� the MEC said.
She said despite the constraints facing local government, municipalities
have also made significant progress in building their programmes to combat
HIV/AIDS, adding that a summary of some of the work that is being undertaken in
selected municipalities is provided at the end of this document. �In general,
our municipalities in the province are moving towards coordinated,
multi-sectoral responses within their areas of jurisdiction. This means that
local government has had to take the lead in building partnerships in a manner
that mobilises all local resources and community-based initiatives towards
common objectives,� she said.
She said all the municipalities have in one way or another embarked on
awareness campaigns and that they have sought to mobilise ward and community
structures and monitor and evaluate programmes at local and municipal levels.
This work had to be done as part of a collaborative effort between civil
society and government to combat HIV/AIDS. �Many municipalities have begun to
integrate HIV/AIDS into their operational policies and programmes, as well as
encourage public participation on the issues posed by the pandemic� Mahlangu
said.
Hlongwa told about 300 delegates that HIV/AIDS is probably the toughest
health challenge that the world has ever faced. �But it is also the most urgent
one given the impact it is having on wider society and the demands it is
placing on human, physical and financial resources. It is therefore, safe to
say that there is not a single person in Gauteng who has not been directly or
indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS.
�We are affected as people living with AIDS, as their families and friends,
as health workers, community workers, counsellors and caregivers,� he said.
He said the government�s response was a key element in the Gauteng
Provincial Five-Year Strategy which includes the acknowledgement that the
development of sustainable communities will depend in part on how citizens
manage the epidemic.
He added that since the inception of the government�s Comprehensive Care
Management and Treatment Programme, including the anti-retroviral treatment
programme, more than 350 000 patients have been assessed and over 41 000, of
which 6 000 are children, have started treatment.
�The Gauteng AIDS programme will continue to base its prevention strategy on
social mobilisation. We must continue to draw community leadership and
organisations that are able to influence lifestyle choices and behaviour
change.
�As government, we are closely aware of the linkages between HIV/AIDS and
poverty and that is why the Gauteng Provincial Government is constantly looking
at the packages of social services that we provide to affected households.
�This includes a range of social grants and ensuring that affected children
can access education opportunities. Underlying this is our belief that we
require stable families and households as an important building block for an
effective response to HIV/AIDS,� he said
The HIV/AIDS Indaba will continue until Friday where delegates are expected
to produce principles and priorities for the current five year term of local
government.
Enquiries:
Themba Sepotokele
Tel: (011) 355 5111
Cell: 082 490 9869
Simon Zwane
Tel: (011) 355 3841
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Local Government, Gauteng Provincial
Government
29 June 2006
