7 May 2006
The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) held its regular meeting to
discuss various issues relating to HIV and AIDS in Pretoria today, 7 May 2006.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as the
Chairperson of SANAC.
The meeting received a report on matters pertaining to applications by SANAC
as South Africaâs Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM) to the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria (Global Fund). SANAC was advised by
the Global Fund that the unsuccessful Round Five applications could not be
reconsidered but should be taken into account in formulating the forthcoming
Round Six applications.
While the resubmission of the application on behalf of Lovelife had not been
successful, the Global Fund approved the re-application on behalf of
KwaZulu-Natal, with provisos. These included the need to establish a system for
the effective monitoring and evaluation of the projects it funds.
The fund also expressed views on the structure and processes of the Country
Co-ordinating Mechanism SANAC agreed that in establishing a Monitoring and
Evaluation system for projects funded by the Global Fund, the opportunity
should be taken to enhance the monitoring and evaluation of all HIV and AIDS
projects. It also agreed that the issues regarding the structure and funding of
the CCM should be taken into account during the forthcoming review by SANAC of
its structures and operations.
It was further agreed that in submitting a Round six application to the
Global Fund, this should as the Global Fund has suggested, be based on the
Round Five application, inviting provinces and organisation wishing to make new
applications that they do so in the context of the Round Five provincial
proposals.
With regard to the review of SANAC, it was agreed that the SANAC Secretariat
should elicit the views of stakeholders on this matter and based on those
inputs compile a proposal for discussion at a workshop to be held by the end of
June.
The Council received a report combining South Africaâs report to the United
Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) and a report on
implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Management, Care and Treatment
of HIV and AIDS. The Council welcomed the progress made in implementing the
plan in all the main areas: prevention, treatment care and support, as a strong
basis on which to further intensify the fight against HIV and AIDS. Regarding
the UNGASS, it was agreed that the South Africa Report should be circulated to
members of the Council. It was further agreed that, prior to the Special
Session, a meeting should be held of all South Africans who will be attending
the special session and that during the Special Session itself there should be
constant liaison in order to promote the presentation of a coherent country to
the UNGASS.
A presentation on a framework for the National Strategic Plan for 2006 -
2011 was made to the Council, as a way forward with the ending of the five-year
Comprehensive Strategy adopted for 2000 - 2005. The Council agreed that the
major approaches of the strategy were correct and should inform the new plan.
It directed that the Department of Health should develop the framework into a
detailed plan and programme, taking into account the experience of
implementation to date and the inputs of the various sectors of SANAC. The plan
will be discussed at a one-day workshop of SANAC in six-month time before
finalisation.
A presentation was made on South Africaâs response to the Africa Unitedâs
declaration of 2006 as a year of accelerated prevention of HIV infection. The
strategy for acceleration is based on stepping up of social mobilisation in
support of the ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use) campaign
together with increased efforts to promote the use of facility-based
interventions.
Council welcomed this contribution to the intensification of the prevention
campaign as the main pillar in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Enquiries:
Sesupo Makakole-Nene
Cell: 082 4627278
Issued by: The Presidency on behalf of SANAC
7 May 2006
