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Date : 01/12/2002
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: World AIDS Day


ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD AIDS DAY, Kimberley, Northern Cape, 1 December 2002

(SPEECH WILL BE READ BY REV FRANK CHIKANE, DIRECTOR-GENERAL IN THE PRESIDENCY. THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT IS IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA)

The Minister of Health,
The Premier of the Northern Cape Province,
MECs, MPs, MPLs present,
Members of the South African National AIDS Council,
The community of Kimberley and surroundings,
Distinguished guests,
Fellow South Africans,

Let me begin by thanking all South Africans who are taking part in today's commemoration of World AIDS Day, in whatever form, and wherever they are.

As we meet across the country, we are all fully aware of the heavy impact of HIV/AIDS in our communities, workplaces and everywhere.

We have come together therefore to join hands so that we can turn difficulties into opportunities and intensify our Campaign of Hope, and refuse to be defeated by this epidemic.

HIV/AIDS is a global challenge -- and possibly one of Africa's major obstacles in its efforts to overcome current socio-economic difficulties. However, we believe there is reason to be hopeful as we are beginning to stem the increase of HIV infection and to address its many humanitarian and social aspects.

I am therefore tremendously encouraged by certain aspects of this year's United Nations AIDS Epidemic Update report, which mentions that: "Evidence from Ethiopia and South Africa shows that prevention work is beginning to pay off for young women, with HIV prevalence rates dropping among pregnant teenagers."

You will agree with me that it is indeed an honour for our country to be singled out in this way, especially since a lot of good work is being done elsewhere in the continent and the world.

Compatriots, much thought, care and best practice has gone into devising and continually improving the prevention elements of our HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005. This Plan remains the basis of our national war against the epidemic.

And we are seeing some results. Among South Africa's pregnant teenage girls, HIV prevalence levels shrank a quarter from 21% in 1998 to 15,4% in 2001.

This, along with the drop in syphilis rates among pregnant women attending antenantal clinics, down to 2.8% in 2001, from 11.2% four years earlier, supports the contention that awareness campaigns and prevention programmes are bearing fruit. The control of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections is crucial because they render people more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Therefore, by decreasing STI prevalence, we are also reducing the risk of HIV.

Prevention is our most powerful tool to address this scourge since there is no known cure for AIDS. It will therefore remain critical that we continue to prioritise prevention through promoting awareness and life skills and HIV/AIDS education.

We have therefore embarked on strong education and prevention drives, which include provincial door-to-door and mass mobilisation campaigns in all of our nine provinces.

As I look back at the past eleven months of this year, it is evident that this has been a significant year for South Africa's fight against HIV/AIDS in other respects too.

I am very happy that the South African National AIDS Council, SANAC, has agreed on its restructuring, which will enable a more effective and representative organisation to emerge. We are of the firm view that this exercise will no doubt further improve the potential of this body to address HIV/AIDS within the Partnership Against AIDS and its sectors.

We are pleased that the Partnership has also grown to include more sectors this year, including men, who formally joined the Partnership at the Men's Imbizo held in Cape Town on the 5th of October. At this gathering, men from all nine provinces declared their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The participation of men in the campaign is indeed significant, given the challenges we still face, including violence against women and children, which contributes to the spread of the virus in some cases.

Across the world, nations, including our own have launched a Campaign of 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children. In South Africa we are very fortunate to see political leaders, sports persons and other role models firmly supporting the campaign and signing the pledge against violence.

We are especially encouraged by the positive role and contributions the broadcast media is making in this regard. They are enabling us to reach deep into society to spread the message that 'Real men do not abuse women, children or anyone else'.

We are convinced that men, as the traditional protectors of women and children, have the power to stop the inhumane and degrading abuse.

Brothers and sisters, a tragic consequence of lack of information and education about HIV/AIDS is the stigma and discrimination against those infected and affected by it. These two factors prevent people from receiving the treatment, and care and support they need, because they discourage people from being tested.

To intensify the campaign against discrimination, the government has drafted a National Policy of Testing for HIV, incorporated into the National Health Act, and tabled in Parliament during this year. Care and support for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS are also one of the most important elements of the government's "Khomanani, Caring Together", campaign.

In this regard, this year on World AIDS Day, we urge all South Africans to contribute to the campaign of caring and fighting the stigma of HIV/AIDS. This year's theme, "Caring Enough to Help", reminds all of us of our responsibility.

This is more so because there is no longer a distinction between those living with HIV/AIDS and those who are not. We are all living with the disease and are affected by it in many ways. We should therefore join the campaign to fight the stigmatisation, and stop discriminating against, and marginalising those who are infected and their families.

The eradication of the stigma around the disease will assist in encouraging people to disclose their status. It will also boost the prevention campaign and make it easier for the infected to seek treatment.

The government has also intensified voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) programme. Knowing your HIV status is important for treatment as well as prevention. The programme to provide VCT started in 2000, and since, we have established 691 sites around the country, with the number growing continually.

Let me also remind you that government has not neglected treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS, even though we emphasise prevention.

Treatment of opportunistic infections such as meningitis, oral thrush, TB and pneumonia is available at public health care facilities, irrespective of a person's HIV status. We are emphasising this because despite numerous efforts towards the reduction of tuberculosis in South Africa, the burden continues to increase due to the coincidence of TB and HIV. We are concerned that the biggest killer of HIV infected South Africans currently, is tuberculosis, yet it is curable and treatment is free.

South Africa has also strengthened its ability to treat common fungal opportunistic infections, and the extended Diflucan Partnership Programme has already dispensed over two million free doses of the anti-fungal treatment.

During 2002, government has also strengthened partnerships between government and the community in the fight against the disease. Beginning today and for the next ten days or so, the Khomanani Giving Campaign will bring much needed assistance to thousands of South Africans that are most affected by HIV/AIDS.

We have, as government, appealed to the charitable character and compassion of South Africans under the theme "I care enough to help, do you?" We therefore appeal to all our citizens to do all they can to assist their friends, neighbours, and any family in the community that is in need, through providing material, emotional or spiritual support.

In addition to participating in a string of initiatives, this year the government has also further strengthened its efforts to assist families affected by the epidemic. During November, some five hundred community and home-based care nurses and lay counsellors have been receiving kits to assist them in their work.

In terms of resources, the budget for home-based care and community-based care is increasing from R25 million in 2001 to R138 million in 2004/2005. Let me also remind you that Government's special HIV/AIDS budget has also been increased from R350 million in 2001/2002 to R1 billion in 2002/2003, and will expand further to R1.8 billion in 2004/2005.

An additional R1.8 billion has been allocated to South Africa through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and SANAC has now endorsed a second round of submissions to the Global Fund.

Compatriots, we are facing a difficult and painful battle, but one we can meet head-on if we maintain hope, and if we all play our role. Let us continue to support members of our families, neighbours, and colleagues who are infected or affected by the disease. This burden is too heavy for anyone to carry alone.

In a moment, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the Minister of Health, will light the Flame of Hope.

Please join the Minister and light your own Flame - and let it continue to burn in your hearts. Let us all care enough to help, and act against the impact of HIV/AIDS.

I thank you.

Issued by the Presidency, 1 December 2002
Source: SAPA

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