Premier of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Dr Zweli Mkhize has used World AIDS Day to mobilise the people of KwaZulu-Natal to rally behind the newly unveiled HIV and AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and TB Provincial Strategic Plan (KZNPSP) 2012 – 2016.
The plan was adopted by the Provincial Council on AIDS on 23 November and was unveiled publicly today in Phongolo, Ncotshane Township.
The Premier said traditional leaders, religious leaders, leaders of civil society and communities must unite and intensify the fight against the pandemic.
“Working together we will ensure that we achieve Zero Aids Related Deaths, Zero New infections and Zero Discrimination,” he said.
The major focus of the new plan is:
- To reduce the rate of new HIV infections from 2,3% to 1%; reduce mother to child transmission to 1,4%; reduce maternal deaths to 200 per 100 000; and increase the TB cure rate from 67,2%.
- To decrease by 80% behaviour that put men and women at risk of HIV, AIDS, Sexual Transmitted Infections and TB (HAST) through implementation of focussed programmes targeting men and women aged 15-49 years by 2016.
- To reduce risk of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV to less than 1.4% by and to scale up medical male circumcision services to 80% of males aged 0-49 by 2016.
The premier said the transmission of HIV is fuelled by psycho-social and economic dynamics that define our daily lives. It is in the ignorance, the negative attitudes and prejudices of our people that the pandemic thrives.
“One person’s sickness must be the concern of all. It is the disease but not the person that must be the enemy. If we ensure that one person is cured of the ailment that will save many more. Every ward must focus on curing the sick, ensuring food security and take responsibility for behavioral change. This is a real war and it will be won in your house, your village and in your ward,” the premier emphasised.
The premier pointed out that KZN had notched up successes in the fight against Aids since the new term of office started in 2009.
He emphasised the following:
- The health of the nation has been identified as a priority, particularly because of the deteriorating health outcomes, largely as a result of increasing burden of disease creating a strain on the health services.
- At the beginning of this term of office, I invited elected leaders from all political parties, in provincial and local governments, traditional, religious leaders and those in civil society to work with government to intensify the Fight Against HIV, AIDS and TB. We extended this invitation because we realised as government that this fight cannot be won by government alone on behalf of society.
- This resulted in the launch of the PARTNERSHIP AGAINST AIDS on 8 October 2009. Government received support from Members of Parliament, leaders of political parties; mayors, counselors, religious leaders of all faiths and denominations, amakhosi, izinduna, amagosa and all traditional healers and other structures such as non-governmental organisations, labour and business. We all agreed to a plan focusing on all wards to create bases to mobilise all local forces to unite their action.
- Critically, since the beginning of this term of office, the KwaZulu-Natal AIDS Council has been meeting regularly and attended by provincial executive council, mayors, municipality managers and other key stakeholders.
- The Council endorsed an integrated campaign focusing on nutrition, treatment of HIV and AIDS and TB with a view to reduce the spread, the emergence of resistant strains, reducing the defaulter rate and improving the cure rate. The focus is also on the management of secondary infections in an attempt to reduce maternal mortality.
- We have scaled up the availability of Anti-retroviral Treatment, especially to protect the pregnant mothers and newborn babies, reducing the maternal and perinatal mortality rates.
- Roving teams are now moving into primary healthcare clinics to ensure quick response, shorter waiting lists for ARV initiation and strong social support for all affected. The expansion of the voluntary counseling and testing and partner tracing has been strengthened using the HCT campaign.
- Results are there for everybody to see.
- It is significant that whilst new TB infections have not declined, there are encouraging signs in the rate of spread of HIV infections, e.g. reduction in mother to child transmission reduced from 22% in 2005 to 2, 8% in 2010.
- It is worth noting that more than 500 000 patients receive ARV treatment and waiting lists have been eliminated through roving initiation teams.
- It is also important to observe that all District AIDS Councils and Local AIDS Councils are now in place and there are NGO’s deployed in all districts to do work in the wards. The participation of councilors in these programs is encouraging.
- The importance of this development has already attracted the attention of various bodies such as the UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Michelle Sedibe who visited our province to pay tribute for the progress that has been registered.
- He further paid tribute to His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini for his leadership in the area of Male Medical Circumcision which has exceeded 75 000 operations without any complications so far.
- His Majesty was also visited by the champions for an Aids Free Generation. The champions were led by His Excellency, Mr Festus Mogae, former president of the Republic of Botswana and chairperson of the Champions; His Excellency, Mr Joaquim Chissano, former president of the Republic of Mozambique; and Ms. Joyce Mhaville, chairperson of the Steering Committee of the African Broadcast Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (ABMP).
- Their assessment of the provincial programme is best captured in their statements which are summarised as follows:
- “During our two-day visit we have met many “Champions” who work hard every day in this struggle against HIV and AIDS. We commend these local Champions and congratulate your country for its progressive attitude.”
- “A policy on male circumcision and infant circumcision should be endorsed by leadership and rolled out with urgency. We believe there is incontrovertible evidence that male circumcision helps reduce the chances of HIV transmission in heterosexual men by as much as 65 percent”
- “We would also like to thank His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini, for meeting with us and we endorse his brave decision to revive the practice of medical male circumcision within the Zulu Nation.”
- “The Champions would like to congratulate South Africa leadership for the recently announced policy initiatives to scale-up the response to HIV and AIDS in their country.”
- A significant development was the formation of South African Business Coalition Against HIV and AIDS representing business effort and have been invited to be part of the AIDS Council.
Enquiries:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, Spokesperson for the Premier
Cell: 082 3754742
Regi Khumalo (Media Liaison Desk for the Premier)
Cell: 079 751 6108
