of the provincial AIDS partnership event, Ladybrand
9 October 2006
Programme Director,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to express my appreciation for being part of the partnership
event to address you today on a matter which lies close to my heart. Providing
a caring and compassionate service to vulnerable groups of our community is an
issue with which we all grapple with everyday. It is the eighth year in which
we commemorate the partnership against HIV and AIDS. The theme for this year is
"Stop AIDS, recommit yourself."
Programme Director, the theme is clearly a clarion call to individuals to
commit themselves in the fight against HIV and AIDS. It is a fact that messages
of HIV and AIDS are found in all forms of media in South Africa but it is the
choice of an individual not to become infected, or if infected, to change
his/her lifestyle to one of positive living.
As the African National Congress (ANC) led government, we are encouraging
the people of South Africa especially the citizens of the Free State province
to stand up and join us together in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The 9
October 1998 marked the day when the then Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki,
launched the partnership against HIV and AIDS initiative. The aim was to work
together with communities, business and private sector in general to
comprehensively address and confront the many issues regarding the HIV and AIDS
pandemic.
Partnership in action in Free State
Ladies and gentlemen, our commitment to fight against HIV and AIDS in
general and to the partnership initiative is an unquestionable one. In the Free
State particularly, the partnership train has been in motion and will continue
to gain momentum until the final victory has been achieved against this
pandemic.
One of the major and groundbreaking steps we have undertaken in advancing
the spirit of the partnership is through the funding of non-governmental and
community based organisations (CBOs) in the province. I have mentioned that
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) constitute another important sector in
this partnership initiative. These organisations assist us in terms of
advancing our strategic focus on the elements of information, education and
communication and outreach programmes which include care and support. It is for
this reason therefore that we deemed it fit that an amount of R1 million for
the financial year 2006/07 should be allocated to fund this very important
work. The funding has already been allocated after advertising it in the media.
It must be clear that we do not fund organisations individually but as part of
consortiums which are constituted by these NGOs.
Programme Director, the other advancement of the spirit of partnership
against HIV and AIDS in our province has been through the establishment of
roadside clinics in the province. These clinics are geared towards providing
truck drivers and sex workers with information about HIV and AIDS and Sexually
Transmitted Illnesses (STIs). The first clinic of this nature that we launched
in the province is on the highway junction in Harrismith. The second one is on
the N1 road at Ventersburg. These two clinics were launched in partnership with
the Learning Clinic. The third one is located at the N1 road in Bloemfontein
and was launched in partnership with Glaxo Smith Kline and the University of
the Free State. We are still looking forward to the launch of more of these
clinics in the province in partnership with these and other relevant
partners.
These clinics are a sign that the private sector is indeed responding to the
call of the then Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, for a partnership against
HIV and AIDS in order to maximise our response against this disease. We still
want to encourage the private sector to be more forthcoming in large numbers as
part of its social responsibility.
Another formidable advancement of spirit of partnership against HIV and AIDS
in the province is through the involvement of the Planned Parenthood
Association of South Africa (PPASA) and Lovelife, which we support in the
implementation of life skills, reproductive health, HIV and AIDS and STI
programmes. These are extensive programmes which target young people in general
and teenagers in particular. We collaborate with the PPASA and Lovelife in
rolling out the Adolescent Friendly Clinic initiative whose objective is to
make our public health clinics friendly to the youth as regards service
provision and the physical environment. We also support the PPASA with the
provision of drugs in their youth centres and health clinics.
Programme Director, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, besides these
initiatives we also have structures and forums that have been established
within and outside government which represent the spirit of partnership against
HIV and AIDS and these are:
* the provincial AIDS council
* inter Ministerial committee on HIV and AIDS
* inter departmental committee on HIV and AIDS
* district AIDS councils
* departmental focal persons
* women in partnership against AIDS
* faith based sector HIV and AIDS forum
* traditional healers forum on HIV and AIDS
* men's forum
* traditional leaders
* people living with HIV and AIDS
* the partnership with business.
The launch of the Provincial Men's Forum on 12 July 2003 and the subsequent
launches of District Men's Forums such as this one represented another major
step in the fight against the scourge of HIV and AIDS. One of our slogans has
been "Men Can Make a Difference" in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This forum
therefore is an added advantage in this battle.
The Department of Health is implementing an Integrated Home Based Care
programme to reduce the burden of diseases, not just HIV and AIDS, within the
communities. We believe in partnerships with civil society organisations, other
government departments and the private sector for the implementation of the
programme. Home based care is rendered to community members in need of care
whether they are young or old.
All civil society organisations rendering home based care service within the
community are linked with the local primary healthcare facilities for patient
referral and resource distribution. Volunteers from civil society organisations
in partnership with the Department of Health are trained on the 59-day
standardised home based care course, which was developed by the national
Department of Health.
Ladies and gentlemen, currently home based care services are established in
80 towns in the province and have been expanded to 10 farms around Van
Stadensrus and Smithfield during the previous financial year and yet another 10
farms around Ladybrand during this financial year. The expanding of home based
care services to 10 farms per financial year is an ongoing process.
To date 140 partnerships are formed with organisations representing civil
society.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have 2 232 volunteers receiving a stipend of R1 000
monthly. We have also trained the Department of Transport (DOT) supporters to
capacitate them on community home based care so that one person visits a home
and renders comprehensive care. This enhances the carer-client relationship. We
also offer learnerships annually and volunteers who meet the criteria set are
considered for the learnerships.
There are eight step-down facilities in the province and trained volunteers
render care services under the supervision of hospital management. On a monthly
basis more than 13 000 people are benefiting from home based and step-down care
facilities.
Programme Director, this is a prime example of yet another partnership we
have formed to serve our communities. Today we gather to celebrate yet another
partnership. Let me also take this opportunity to call upon those who are
already infected and affected, to come forward in this fight against HIV and
AIDS. Your involvement in this struggle can help us to overcome this pandemic.
We need to see vibrant support groups linked to faces and voices of people
living with HIV and AIDS.
Programme Director, it would be an omission on my part not to make mention
of the crucial role which is played by structures at local municipal level.
Here I am referring to the local municipal councils and the elected officials
as well as the ward councillors and other community structures. Every
individual has a responsibility to join the fight against HIV and AIDS, and
what is more appropriate than to join forces with partnerships at local
level.
Here in Ladybrand I want to acknowledge the following partners who fully
assist the Department in its fight against HIV and AIDS as well as other
illnesses in our communities:
* the Ladybrand Hospice
* the local municipality
* Mantsopa Consortium
* all the volunteers.
I also want to thank all the volunteers who just finalised the training of
carers for the rural and farm areas.
Ladies and gentlemen, as today is also the start of Eye Care Awareness Week
and the theme of "Low Vision", it is important for us to realise that there is
a definite relationship between HIV and eye care. We all need to inform the
community that HIV and AIDS affects most or all systems and organs of the body
negatively. Depending on how the virus affects the eyes the following can
happen, eyes can become painful, red and sometimes blind or a person can
develop low vision which is the main focus of the eye awareness week. There are
pamphlets on this issue which are being distributed. Familiarise yourself with
its content and learn more about the effects of HIV and AIDS on eye care. Eye
care services are situated on the grounds here today. Please utilise this free
service.
Programme Director, much has been written in the past weeks about the new
strain of tuberculosis (TB), called Extreme Drug Resistance (XDR). I would like
to briefly touch on this and would like to make you aware of the new strain.
XDR was discovered in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and has also been found in other
provinces including the Free State. Let me take this opportunity to explain to
you what is XDR TB and how it happens. It all starts with the ordinary TB that
we are familiar with. A client is diagnosed with TB and is expected to take
treatment for six months or eight months and if he/she does not complete the
treatment as required, then he/she develops multi drug resistant TB. This
client then has to take treatment longer than the previous time, up to two
years, as the TB bacteria has now developed a much stronger resistance against
treatment.
If this client still fails to take treatment as required he/she will develop
XDR TB, which at this point cannot be treated with any drugs available in South
Africa as it is resistant to all. This is an extremely dangerous form of TB. It
is therefore important for those diagnosed with TB to take and finish their
treatment as informed by the health institution they attend.
As communities it is our responsibility to support those on treatment, to
advise those coughing longer than two weeks to go for sputum tests and to
report to our healthcare workers anyone who refuses to go for tests or whom you
know is refusing to go for treatment. As individuals we are the only ones who
can stop all TB. TB can be cured. There is a mobile clinic outside of this tent
which is testing sputum. Please also visit your local clinic and know your TB
status.
Lastly, let me make mention of the launch of two antiretroviral (ARV) sites
before the end of this financial year. In Mantsopa the treatment site will be
at the Mantsopa District Hospital and two assessment sites Ladybrand Clinic and
Manyatseng Clinic. In Naledi it will be at the Lebohang Clinic which will be a
combination of the treatment and assessment site.
In conclusion, this is another historical landmark that we are laying in the
Free State. Partnerships have a historical mission to fulfil. It dares not fail
because the hopes of many of our people are pinned on this positive role that
we must play to stem the tide of these challenges. Let us all engage in all the
battles against the social ills that confront our communities.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
9 October 2006
