The MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo invites the media to the World AIDS Day commemoration where he would be outlining government’s Provincial Strategic Plan 2012 – 2016, highlight issues around disability and HIV as well as launch the Men’s Forum in Amajuba.
The event will take place on 1 December 2011 at Madlangeni (Utrecht) from 10h00. The events will be preceded by a Men’s march to communicate unity and call to act against the abuse of women, children and people with disabilities.
The Premier announced the adoption of the KZN HIV and AIDS, STI and TB (HAST) Provincial Strategic Plan (KZNPSP) 2012-2016, which is a product of a highly participatory and consultative process involving a wide range of stakeholders from communities, districts, provincial government departments, civil society organizations, private sector and development partners. The Strategic Plan also outlines a 20-year vision for the HIV, AIDS, TB, STI and MCWH response in the province, which is: Zero new infections, Zero deaths associated with HIV and TB and Zero discrimination
The World AIDS Day is celebrated under the theme: Getting to zero – Zero new infections, Zero AIDS related deaths and Zero discrimination. The theme was announced on 9 September 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa. This theme is supported by the United Nations “Getting to Zero” campaign and runs until 2016.
The MEC will, during the World AIDS Day commemoration, highlight what is known as the ‘triple burden’ of poverty, disability and HIV to highlight the need to include and involve people with disabilities in all HIV and AIDS programmes.
“Many disabled people are subject to what is known as the ‘Triple Burden’ of disability, poverty and HIV and AIDS. The most prevalent causes are a lack of access to service provision, a lack of awareness of the disease, and the stigma that first goes along with being disabled, and additionally by having contracted HIV and AIDS,” says MEC Dhlomo.
The MEC will also launch the District Men’s Forum with an aim to involve men more fully in the effort against HIV and AIDS and to bring about a much-needed focus on men as partners in responses to the epidemic. To this end, the three main goals are: to raise awareness of the relationship between HIV and male behavior, to encourage men and teenage boys to make a strong commitment to preventing the spread of HIV and caring for those affected and to promote programmes that respond to the needs of both men and women.
“Never before in the history of HIV and AIDS have we reached a moment where we are able to stand up and say with conviction: we are winning the battle against the disease!” says MEC Dhlomo. “Leaders of various persuasions are standing up to say that an AIDS-free generation is possible, that no child should be born with HIV and no mother should die of AIDS.”
He adds that the gulf between treatment and prevention has ended. He calls on communities to be aware that “the road before us is clear and we can accelerate ahead faster, smarter and better.”
Notes for editors:
Ten Areas of success in the past years:
- The incidence of HIV is estimated to have declined from 3.8% in 2005 to 2.3% in 2008
- HIV transmission rate from mother to child declined from 22% in 2005 to 2.8% in 2010
- The estimated number of deaths due to HIV and AIDS is expected to have reduced from 67, 429 in 2008/09 to 54,337 in 2010/11.
- HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) coverage has increased, 2010/11 campaign achieved 95% of its target
- Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) programme has achieved universal coverage with cumulative total of 459,670, of which 45598 are children, having been registered on ART in 2011
- Forty eight (48) High Transmission Areas (HTAs) have been established.
- 100% of government and private health facilities provide continuous supply of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medicines
- 100% of all blood and blood products are screened in a quality assured manner
- Male circumcision has been introduced and accepted in the province. The province reported 54 670 MMC operations in the period April 2010 to June 2011.There has been strong support from political and cultural leaders for this programme.
- The Provincial Council on AIDS; 82% of the District AIDS Councils and 53% of Local AIDS Councils are fully functional.
