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Date : 06/04/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Reception of Global Fund's Executive Director


ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE RECEPTION TO WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA, Presidential Guesthouse, Pretoria, 6 April 2003

Programme Director
Director General of the Department of Health
The Minister of Health
The Executive Director of the Global Fund
All our Partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS present here
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this important gathering, where we are meeting to cement our partnership with the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

Let me therefore begin by extending a heartfelt welcome to Professor Feacham, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the South African National AIDS Council, (SANAC).

We are indeed honoured to have you and your delegation in our midst, as the Global Fund is a significant and very timely intervention in our efforts to combat HIV and AIDS, Malaria and TB.

I would like to assure you that we are very committed to our Partnership with the Global Fund. We are confident that this relationship will grow into a stronger, lasting and sustainable joint venture that will provide hope and make a difference to the lives of many South Africans.

As you would be aware, our Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (CCM), SANAC, has been in existence for over two years, and has done a lot of work in co-ordinating a multi-sectoral response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Let me, on behalf of SANAC, express my gratitude that, during the first round of applications to the Global Fund, the proposals of Lovelife, Soul City and the Enhanced Care Initiative from KwaZulu-Natal were successful, and in the second round, the HIV/TB initiative. We are also looking forward to finalising the third round of applications soon.

These allocations go some way towards fulfilling the vision of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, when he mooted the establishment of the Global Fund.

There is a serious question of sustainability. I firmly believe that the world has adequate resources, both in financial and innovation terms, to contribute through making the Global Fund more extensive in its reach. There is still no cure for AIDS, and resources will continue to be in short supply in the developing world, to prevent the further spread of HIV, manage the existing cases and treat opportunistic infections, as well as cope with the social and economic impact of the disease.

We earnestly appeal to all countries that have made pledges to make their contributions to enable the successful intensification of the efforts of combating these diseases.

I must reiterate that we remain firmly committed to the fight against diseases like TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria, and are implementing various programmes in this regard.

We also remain firm in our conviction that it is only through partnerships, such as this one with the Global Fund, that we will be able to make a meaningful and maximum impact in preventing and stopping these diseases. We are also very much aware of the challenges we face. For example, fifty years after the finding of a cure against TB, it is still a major killer among the peoples of the world, especially in Africa. The impact of Malaria and HIV/AIDS is also well known.

We thank you for taking this time to visit us, and trust that during this week, you will gain a first-hand insight into our programmes, challenges as well as successes.

Amongst other things, you will observe that central to our country's constitutional freedom is the principle of freedom of speech and plurality of expression of different thoughts. This vitality in social activity is one of the strongest pillars of our society; hence you will find some views that seem different to those of our government on HIV/AIDS during your stay.

I also hope that you will find time in your busy schedule to experience the diverse and rich culture of the Rainbow Nation, and that you will take fond memories back home.

I thank you.

Enquiries: Zanele Mngadi at 0827819332
Website: www.gov.za, email: mngadiz@mweb.co.za
Issued by The Presidency
6 April 2003

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