S Sekoati: STIs and Condom Awareness

17 March 2007

Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Elias Motsoaledi Municipality
Councillors from the Local Municipalities
District Manager
Government officials present
Ladies and Gentlemen

The ANC lead government is proud to run this programme in partnership with
communities throughout the province. It is in the interest of government and
every citizen of the country to have a society that is free from Sexually
Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS. Let us therefore STOP
STIs and "Keep the Promise". Since 1994 we have been in the struggle to push
the frontiers of poverty and along side this struggle is the fight against HIV
and AIDS and STIs.

Let us all take responsibility of our own sexual health and wellness through
early detection and treatment of STIs. This is the message the department of
Health and Social Development is bringing to the people of Moutse and
Sekhukhune district. Every year we stage one event for the province but this
year we have decided to hold them in districts. We hope that in future we will
have this kind of events in all municipalities.

For those who might not be aware, STIs are infections caused by
micro-organisms that are passed from one person to another during sexual
intercourse. We are all involved in this kind of activity and it is therefore
vital for all of us to have open discussions about STIs in public gatherings,
be it in schools, churches, funerals etc. This kind of engagement will assist
those who are infected but afraid to come out. We need to stop stigmatising the
disease by publicly speaking about the symptoms and management of STIs
including HIV and AIDS.

Once a person suspects that he or she has been infected by STIs, that person
must go to the nearest clinic or consult a doctor. If it is confirmed that you
are infected with STIs, get treatment and immediately notify your partner or
whoever you have had sexual intercourse within the last eight weeks, so that
they get treated even if they might not be infected. By doing so, you would
have acted and conducted yourself in a very responsible manner. By so doing you
could have helped minimise the complications that could have been caused by
STIs and you could have also helped in interrupting the transmission of
STIs.

By notifying our partners at the early stages of the infection, it could
also help them in receiving counselling so that we reduce the risky sexual
behaviours. Be cautious when notifying your partners, act carefully and
responsibly in a way that it does not alienate your partner. Let us avoid
accusing our partners of infecting us because they might want to deny having
been infected.

To our healthcare professionals, we must at all times remember to respect
the human rights and dignity of people infected with STIs and their partners.
We need to treat and manage STIs and HIV and AIDS in the context of Primary
Health Care. The principles of Batho Pele apply to people infected with STIs.
The process of treatment and notification should be confidential.

Let us continue with our commitment to champion the struggle to help change
the behaviour of people in our communities. We have already made achievements
since the beginning of this programme and we should continue working in
partnership with communities. Our approach remains that of building a
constructive partnership between the communities at risk, the healthcare
providers and government agencies.

Let us be consistent in using condoms so that we can be able to prevent STIs
including HIV and unwanted pregnancies. Condoms, including female condoms, are
available at all our healthcare centres.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Health, Limpopo Provincial Government
17 March 2007
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za/)