Date: 21/10/2004
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: G Akharwaray: Launch of Provincial Action Committee for Children Infected & Affected by HIV and AIDS
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE MEC FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, MR G.H. AKHARWARAY, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE PROVINCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS, 21 October 2004
City Hall, Kimberley
Theme: Children's right to coordinated services
Development is about children
The Mayor,
Members of Legislature,
Councillors,
Heads of Departments,
National Department of Social Development representatives
Representatives from UNICEF, Save the children and The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentleman
It is an honour to be part of an event of such nature which has the aim to bring together people from all walks of life, who share a common vision. A vision that suggests that children have the right to coordinated services. A vision that highlights the child's interest when considering development.
The topic under discussion - meeting the rights and needs of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS is not a new one. It has kept us all busy for a while now.
The incidence of the HIV & AIDS pandemic demands vigorous intervention strategies. These relate to awareness, prevention or curative measures.
A major challenge in these interventions remains the provision of appropriate care and timeous support to the children infected and affected by HIV & Aids.
We have requisite statistics, the strategies to intervene and the will to do so. The call remains for services to children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS to be coordinated.
It is only through working together, a sort of partnership, that the needs and rights of children can be adequately addressed.
Development in this regard must however take place with children and women at the centre thereof.
The child population under the age of 18 in the Northern Cape Province is 320 578 out of a total of 822 799 which equals 39 % of the total population.
At an infection rate of 9.98 % we could see problems developing in future with growth in the amount of orphans that we have to care for. We also know that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is about 15.15 %, which is amongst the lowest in the country.
We are making some headway as this figure is slightly lower than it was in 2001 when it was 15.85%. Statistics also indicate that the infection rate amongst persons below 20 has stabilized.
Our children are this countries future. Childhood is also a sacred time, it is a time to play, it is a time to learn, it is a time to grow and enjoy friendships and family. It is a time when every child should have a chance to develop their potential and enjoy bright plans for their future. But for too many children, childhood could be a lost dream if we do not arrest this problem.
Children lose their parents at an early age being left orphaned, children have to take care of their younger siblings.
A study done by the Department of Social Services and Population Development has shown that in Donkerhoek there were unacceptably high levels of child headed households. This is the reality on our doorsteps that must be addressed.
Such children, if not supported or cared for, will end up on the streets or become dependant on our social welfare system. They could end up being unproductive in an economic sense.
The needs and rights of these children need to be addressed to ensure the betterment, well-being and empowerment of these children.
The specific needs of affected children are counseling, supervision of homework, support groups, meals and opportunities to broaden their developmental scope through developing their talents, providing the opportunity for tertiary education and receiving training on life skills such as parenting, communication, relationships, leadership and decision making.
HIV & AIDS also have a negative impact on the family structure.
Through the Social Services Department comprehensive home/community based care service, such families are assisted and a caring society has been built and progressively addressing the stigma around HIV & AIDS.
We have over 900 caregivers active in the province and some 38 NGOs active in fighting HIV/AIDS. Our home-based care workers render counselling and supportive services to families infected and affected by this pandemic.
To these workers I say thank you. This country is in debt to you for your unselfish contribution.
Community home based care services also makes provision for material support, spiritual support and nutritional care focusing on the basic needs of children.
In addition, children are kept in families as far as possible through foster care placements especially for children who are orphaned.
To translate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that is based on survival, protection, development and participation of children to provide care and support requires coordinated services to children.
The Provincial Action Committee for Children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS (PACCA) is being launched here today. A structure of this nature would amongst other things:
* Address the rights and needs of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
* These children's rights and needs should be spoken about in churches, in the army, in the public, at gatherings such as these and everywhere
* This structure should identify the talents and skills of each person who belongs to PACCA to determine what and how each person can contribute to meet the rights and needs of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
* This structure would work as a team to bring all services together - soup kitchens, neighbour helping neighbour programmes, life skills, home community based care services and food gardens to address the needs and rights of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
* This structure would always have the vision for coordinated services to children with the participation of children.
To all the stakeholders involved in PACCA I would like to say:
* Play your part in this process with commitment and passion.
Let us make PACCA work for the sake of all the children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Let us not get sidetracked with debates that might result in us taking our eyes off our focus i.e. the child.
Let us also continue with a multipronged approach to address this problem.
Success lies in us working together in a coordinated way.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Social Services and Population Development, Northern Cape Provincial Government
21 October 2004
Source: Northern Cape Provincial government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za)
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: G Akharwaray: Launch of Provincial Action Committee for Children Infected & Affected by HIV and AIDS
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE MEC FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, MR G.H. AKHARWARAY, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE PROVINCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS, 21 October 2004
City Hall, Kimberley
Theme: Children's right to coordinated services
Development is about children
The Mayor,
Members of Legislature,
Councillors,
Heads of Departments,
National Department of Social Development representatives
Representatives from UNICEF, Save the children and The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentleman
It is an honour to be part of an event of such nature which has the aim to bring together people from all walks of life, who share a common vision. A vision that suggests that children have the right to coordinated services. A vision that highlights the child's interest when considering development.
The topic under discussion - meeting the rights and needs of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS is not a new one. It has kept us all busy for a while now.
The incidence of the HIV & AIDS pandemic demands vigorous intervention strategies. These relate to awareness, prevention or curative measures.
A major challenge in these interventions remains the provision of appropriate care and timeous support to the children infected and affected by HIV & Aids.
We have requisite statistics, the strategies to intervene and the will to do so. The call remains for services to children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS to be coordinated.
It is only through working together, a sort of partnership, that the needs and rights of children can be adequately addressed.
Development in this regard must however take place with children and women at the centre thereof.
The child population under the age of 18 in the Northern Cape Province is 320 578 out of a total of 822 799 which equals 39 % of the total population.
At an infection rate of 9.98 % we could see problems developing in future with growth in the amount of orphans that we have to care for. We also know that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is about 15.15 %, which is amongst the lowest in the country.
We are making some headway as this figure is slightly lower than it was in 2001 when it was 15.85%. Statistics also indicate that the infection rate amongst persons below 20 has stabilized.
Our children are this countries future. Childhood is also a sacred time, it is a time to play, it is a time to learn, it is a time to grow and enjoy friendships and family. It is a time when every child should have a chance to develop their potential and enjoy bright plans for their future. But for too many children, childhood could be a lost dream if we do not arrest this problem.
Children lose their parents at an early age being left orphaned, children have to take care of their younger siblings.
A study done by the Department of Social Services and Population Development has shown that in Donkerhoek there were unacceptably high levels of child headed households. This is the reality on our doorsteps that must be addressed.
Such children, if not supported or cared for, will end up on the streets or become dependant on our social welfare system. They could end up being unproductive in an economic sense.
The needs and rights of these children need to be addressed to ensure the betterment, well-being and empowerment of these children.
The specific needs of affected children are counseling, supervision of homework, support groups, meals and opportunities to broaden their developmental scope through developing their talents, providing the opportunity for tertiary education and receiving training on life skills such as parenting, communication, relationships, leadership and decision making.
HIV & AIDS also have a negative impact on the family structure.
Through the Social Services Department comprehensive home/community based care service, such families are assisted and a caring society has been built and progressively addressing the stigma around HIV & AIDS.
We have over 900 caregivers active in the province and some 38 NGOs active in fighting HIV/AIDS. Our home-based care workers render counselling and supportive services to families infected and affected by this pandemic.
To these workers I say thank you. This country is in debt to you for your unselfish contribution.
Community home based care services also makes provision for material support, spiritual support and nutritional care focusing on the basic needs of children.
In addition, children are kept in families as far as possible through foster care placements especially for children who are orphaned.
To translate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that is based on survival, protection, development and participation of children to provide care and support requires coordinated services to children.
The Provincial Action Committee for Children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS (PACCA) is being launched here today. A structure of this nature would amongst other things:
* Address the rights and needs of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
* These children's rights and needs should be spoken about in churches, in the army, in the public, at gatherings such as these and everywhere
* This structure should identify the talents and skills of each person who belongs to PACCA to determine what and how each person can contribute to meet the rights and needs of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
* This structure would work as a team to bring all services together - soup kitchens, neighbour helping neighbour programmes, life skills, home community based care services and food gardens to address the needs and rights of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
* This structure would always have the vision for coordinated services to children with the participation of children.
To all the stakeholders involved in PACCA I would like to say:
* Play your part in this process with commitment and passion.
Let us make PACCA work for the sake of all the children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Let us not get sidetracked with debates that might result in us taking our eyes off our focus i.e. the child.
Let us also continue with a multipronged approach to address this problem.
Success lies in us working together in a coordinated way.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Social Services and Population Development, Northern Cape Provincial Government
21 October 2004
Source: Northern Cape Provincial government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za)
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