Date: 04/10/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of fifth Partnership Against AIDS Week
PARTNERSHIP AGAINST AIDS
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT PARTNERSHIP WEEK LAUNCH, Phalaborwa, 4 October 2003
The Minister of Health,
The Premier of the Northern Province,
The MEC for Health and other MECs present,
Distinguished guests,
Fellow South Africans,
We once again meet to rededicate ourselves to the fight against HIV and AIDS, and to recommit ourselves to providing support and care to those who are living with the disease and their loved ones.
We are gathered here because we believe that the danger is real, and that unless we intensify our efforts as individuals and communities, many more people face the danger of being affected by HIV and AIDS.
We are today rededicating ourselves to the Partnership Against AIDS, as launched by President Mbeki in 1998.
This event is a confirmation of our belief that the Partnership Against AIDS was, and is still a powerful weapon that we have against the disease. We have as a country been successful in whatever we do because we realise the importance of working together, in strong partnerships, to tackle whatever problem we face.
The Partnership Against AIDS is formalised in the South African National AIDS Council, bringing together many sectors to pool intellectual and material resources to respond to this challenge.
We are here to strengthen the Partnership Against AIDS. The power to defeat the spread of HIV and AIDS lies in our partnership: as youth, as women and men, as business people, as workers, as religious people, as parents and teachers, as youth, as traditional leaders and traditional healers, as people living with disability, in fact, all of us.
Today, we urge the whole nation to once again join hands in this Partnership Against HIV and AIDS, united in our resolve to make a difference.
As Partners Against AIDS, together we pledge to spread the message that we all have a role to play in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Wherever we are - we shall let our families, friends and peers know that they can save themselves and save the nation, by taking this disease seriously and changing their behaviour.
I appeal to the youth, who represent our country's future, to abstain from sex for as long as possible. If you decide to engage in sex, use a condom.
As Partners Against AIDS, together we pledge to care!
We shall work together to care for those living with HIV and AIDS and for the children orphaned through AIDS. They must not be subjected to discrimination of any kind. They have a right to live productive and normal lives, unhindered by prejudice from those who are not infected or who do not know their HIV status.
As Partners Against AIDS, together we pledge to pool our resources and to commit our brainpower!
There is still no cure for HIV and AIDS. Nothing can prevent infection except our own behaviour.
We shall work together to support medical institutions to search for a vaccine and a cure.
We shall mobilise all possible resources to spread the message of prevention, to offer support to those infected and affected, and to destigmatise HIV and AIDS and to continue our search for a medical solution.
We also emphasise the importance of access to treatment. Public health institutions already provide treatment for opportunistic infections, and as partners we must pledge to monitor this and provide support where we can.
The Department of Health is working on the draft task team report on the operational plan for an Antiretroviral Treatment Programme for South Africa to make sure that Cabinet receives a good quality plan on which to take a practical decision. It is our well-considered view that anti-retroviral drugs improve the quality of life of the infected, when used correctly.
And so today we join hands in the Partnership, fully aware that our unity is our strength. The simple but practical action that we take today is tomorrow's insurance for our nation.
Accordingly, we pledge, meaningfully and strongly, that we will protect ourselves and our partners against HIV and AIDS.
Together, as Partners Against HIV and AIDS, we can and shall win.
It is never too late to act correctly. Let us do so without further delay.
Long live the Partnership Against AIDS!
I thank you.
Issued by The Presidency
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of fifth Partnership Against AIDS Week
PARTNERSHIP AGAINST AIDS
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT PARTNERSHIP WEEK LAUNCH, Phalaborwa, 4 October 2003
The Minister of Health,
The Premier of the Northern Province,
The MEC for Health and other MECs present,
Distinguished guests,
Fellow South Africans,
We once again meet to rededicate ourselves to the fight against HIV and AIDS, and to recommit ourselves to providing support and care to those who are living with the disease and their loved ones.
We are gathered here because we believe that the danger is real, and that unless we intensify our efforts as individuals and communities, many more people face the danger of being affected by HIV and AIDS.
We are today rededicating ourselves to the Partnership Against AIDS, as launched by President Mbeki in 1998.
This event is a confirmation of our belief that the Partnership Against AIDS was, and is still a powerful weapon that we have against the disease. We have as a country been successful in whatever we do because we realise the importance of working together, in strong partnerships, to tackle whatever problem we face.
The Partnership Against AIDS is formalised in the South African National AIDS Council, bringing together many sectors to pool intellectual and material resources to respond to this challenge.
We are here to strengthen the Partnership Against AIDS. The power to defeat the spread of HIV and AIDS lies in our partnership: as youth, as women and men, as business people, as workers, as religious people, as parents and teachers, as youth, as traditional leaders and traditional healers, as people living with disability, in fact, all of us.
Today, we urge the whole nation to once again join hands in this Partnership Against HIV and AIDS, united in our resolve to make a difference.
As Partners Against AIDS, together we pledge to spread the message that we all have a role to play in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Wherever we are - we shall let our families, friends and peers know that they can save themselves and save the nation, by taking this disease seriously and changing their behaviour.
I appeal to the youth, who represent our country's future, to abstain from sex for as long as possible. If you decide to engage in sex, use a condom.
As Partners Against AIDS, together we pledge to care!
We shall work together to care for those living with HIV and AIDS and for the children orphaned through AIDS. They must not be subjected to discrimination of any kind. They have a right to live productive and normal lives, unhindered by prejudice from those who are not infected or who do not know their HIV status.
As Partners Against AIDS, together we pledge to pool our resources and to commit our brainpower!
There is still no cure for HIV and AIDS. Nothing can prevent infection except our own behaviour.
We shall work together to support medical institutions to search for a vaccine and a cure.
We shall mobilise all possible resources to spread the message of prevention, to offer support to those infected and affected, and to destigmatise HIV and AIDS and to continue our search for a medical solution.
We also emphasise the importance of access to treatment. Public health institutions already provide treatment for opportunistic infections, and as partners we must pledge to monitor this and provide support where we can.
The Department of Health is working on the draft task team report on the operational plan for an Antiretroviral Treatment Programme for South Africa to make sure that Cabinet receives a good quality plan on which to take a practical decision. It is our well-considered view that anti-retroviral drugs improve the quality of life of the infected, when used correctly.
And so today we join hands in the Partnership, fully aware that our unity is our strength. The simple but practical action that we take today is tomorrow's insurance for our nation.
Accordingly, we pledge, meaningfully and strongly, that we will protect ourselves and our partners against HIV and AIDS.
Together, as Partners Against HIV and AIDS, we can and shall win.
It is never too late to act correctly. Let us do so without further delay.
Long live the Partnership Against AIDS!
I thank you.
Issued by The Presidency
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