Date: 01/12/2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Mayisela: World AIDS Day
Brief remarks by North West Health MEC, Mandlenkosi Mayisela, during World AIDS Day, Mafikeng Stadium
Programme Director;
Hon. Premier, Mme Edna Bomo Molewa;
Colleagues in the Executive Council;
Hon. Members of Parliament and MPLs;
Hon. Local Mafikeng Municipality Mayor her Worship Cllr Nomvula Hlangwana;
Hon Mayor of the Central District Council Cllr, Mbuyiselo Mohulatsi;
Our Esteemed Traditional Leaders and Healers;
The Provincial Council on AIDS Members;
Members of our Religious Fraternity;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen
It was in the early eighties when the first report of HIV and AIDS related case surfaced and caused havoc and fear across the United States. From that day on what, over 50 million people across the world are now infected with, HIV and more than half of those infections are found in Sub-Sahara Africa.
As we are gathered here today, millions of other peoples of the world are holding various conventions and gatherings in a global initiative to raise awareness and the dangers of HIV and AIDS.
Programme Director, I stand tall here proud that the people of South Africa and the North West Province in particular are not holding back and surrendering to the scourge of this pandemic. Everyday the building blocks for a healthier nation and the total fight against HIV and AIDS are laid courtesy of our committed multi-sectoral partnerships against the disease.
Today at this stadium, we are also joining the rest of the world in renewing our pledges and resolve to fight the AIDS pandemic and win it for good in a united people's contract.
In 2000 we established the North West Provincial Council on AIDS to serve as a non-statutory body that co-ordinate all these efforts aimed at fight this pandemic. The PCA has since grown to be one of our best multi-sectoral network structures that bring together everybody from traditional healers to ward committees in a united action against AIDS.
Programme Director, since 22 November various build-up programmes unfolded in our areas led by the District and Local Councils on AIDS. These activities included door-to-door visits, awareness sessions and robust discussions on how best can we change gears and look beyond awareness and focus on changing human behaviour and attitudes coupled with acceptance and tolerance of people living with the virus.
Ladies and Gentlemen, South Africa has never experienced an epidemic of the magnitude of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The routine surveillance conducted by the Department Of Health has shown that among pregnant women attending public health clinics for antenatal care, the prevalence has increased from less than 1% in 1990 to 29% in 2003. Some of the contributing factors to these high figures relates to long rooted perceptions and myths about the AIDS pandemic, its origin and how its being spread.
Many of you will recall that, there are those who want us to belief that, AIDS came to Africa and subsequently to South Africa through the dumping of polluted substance from Europe, or that it is the American Idea of Destroying Sex.
Others believed that, it is the response from the Almighty God in punishing the human folk from high levels promiscuity, uncontrollable sexual fantasies and lack of good morals.
Weather these myths, stories and perceptions have a base or not is not the issue now. The fact of the matter is that, AIDS is here, and it is true it's real. According to the 2003 Antenatal Survey results, the North West Province is the sixth highest prevalence of HIV compared to being the fifth highest in the previous years. The Southern and Central Districts had the highest HIV prevalence, both being at 36%. It is said to note that the Central District recorded the highest increase, which went from 22.8% in 2002 to 36% in 2003.
These figures above Programme Director, indicates to us that we still have a lot of work to do particularly in the Central District, which has recorded a sharp increase. We are here today in this District to take aim at these challenges.
In our continued efforts to fight this pandemic, we need also to remind everybody that our approach as Government is a Comprehensive and integrated treatment package. This programme includes the proper provision of ARV drugs, intensification of our VCT and PMTC initiatives, nutritional programme, public awareness campaigns, caring and support of those infected and affected, support our care groups and volunteers and promote our ABC approaches. All of you will agree with me that, this amount to a lot of work. That is why our call for partnership remains relevant as ever.
Our Comprehensive Plan on the Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS is steadily moving into top gear. We have far surpassed the National targets of having at least 1 service point by the middle of 2005 in each district municipality. Currently we have 1-service points in all the districts in the province as prescribed by the cabinet directive. Over 1000 patients in the four sites are receiving treatment and we are expecting the numbers to increase in the New Year.
Plans are at an advanced stage to move into the second round of accrediting other service points in the province. In the first quarter of next year we are hoping to accredit, Jubilee hospital in Moretele, Potchefstroom Hospital, Thusong hospital and Ganyesa hospital respectively to expand this programme to reach thousands of people in our deep rural areas in need of this intervention.
Programme Director, I am more than convinced that we will as from today also pay special attention to our resolve as government and civil society on how best do we take the AIDS struggle to another level. This level is that of beyond awareness. Statistics and trends indicate that we have put a lot of resources and energy into the latter as we can now safely say South Africans are aware of HIV and AIDS. Adherence to good life styles, good morals and healthy eating and appropriate sexual conduct are among the other urgent issues, which should dominate the public discourse.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today in the middle of a running programme of 16 days of activism against violence on women and children and we need to add voice to the call's that please, Khomanani, let's all care together for our women and children. Let our actions count.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, North West Provincial Government
1 December 2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Mayisela: World AIDS Day
Brief remarks by North West Health MEC, Mandlenkosi Mayisela, during World AIDS Day, Mafikeng Stadium
Programme Director;
Hon. Premier, Mme Edna Bomo Molewa;
Colleagues in the Executive Council;
Hon. Members of Parliament and MPLs;
Hon. Local Mafikeng Municipality Mayor her Worship Cllr Nomvula Hlangwana;
Hon Mayor of the Central District Council Cllr, Mbuyiselo Mohulatsi;
Our Esteemed Traditional Leaders and Healers;
The Provincial Council on AIDS Members;
Members of our Religious Fraternity;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen
It was in the early eighties when the first report of HIV and AIDS related case surfaced and caused havoc and fear across the United States. From that day on what, over 50 million people across the world are now infected with, HIV and more than half of those infections are found in Sub-Sahara Africa.
As we are gathered here today, millions of other peoples of the world are holding various conventions and gatherings in a global initiative to raise awareness and the dangers of HIV and AIDS.
Programme Director, I stand tall here proud that the people of South Africa and the North West Province in particular are not holding back and surrendering to the scourge of this pandemic. Everyday the building blocks for a healthier nation and the total fight against HIV and AIDS are laid courtesy of our committed multi-sectoral partnerships against the disease.
Today at this stadium, we are also joining the rest of the world in renewing our pledges and resolve to fight the AIDS pandemic and win it for good in a united people's contract.
In 2000 we established the North West Provincial Council on AIDS to serve as a non-statutory body that co-ordinate all these efforts aimed at fight this pandemic. The PCA has since grown to be one of our best multi-sectoral network structures that bring together everybody from traditional healers to ward committees in a united action against AIDS.
Programme Director, since 22 November various build-up programmes unfolded in our areas led by the District and Local Councils on AIDS. These activities included door-to-door visits, awareness sessions and robust discussions on how best can we change gears and look beyond awareness and focus on changing human behaviour and attitudes coupled with acceptance and tolerance of people living with the virus.
Ladies and Gentlemen, South Africa has never experienced an epidemic of the magnitude of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The routine surveillance conducted by the Department Of Health has shown that among pregnant women attending public health clinics for antenatal care, the prevalence has increased from less than 1% in 1990 to 29% in 2003. Some of the contributing factors to these high figures relates to long rooted perceptions and myths about the AIDS pandemic, its origin and how its being spread.
Many of you will recall that, there are those who want us to belief that, AIDS came to Africa and subsequently to South Africa through the dumping of polluted substance from Europe, or that it is the American Idea of Destroying Sex.
Others believed that, it is the response from the Almighty God in punishing the human folk from high levels promiscuity, uncontrollable sexual fantasies and lack of good morals.
Weather these myths, stories and perceptions have a base or not is not the issue now. The fact of the matter is that, AIDS is here, and it is true it's real. According to the 2003 Antenatal Survey results, the North West Province is the sixth highest prevalence of HIV compared to being the fifth highest in the previous years. The Southern and Central Districts had the highest HIV prevalence, both being at 36%. It is said to note that the Central District recorded the highest increase, which went from 22.8% in 2002 to 36% in 2003.
These figures above Programme Director, indicates to us that we still have a lot of work to do particularly in the Central District, which has recorded a sharp increase. We are here today in this District to take aim at these challenges.
In our continued efforts to fight this pandemic, we need also to remind everybody that our approach as Government is a Comprehensive and integrated treatment package. This programme includes the proper provision of ARV drugs, intensification of our VCT and PMTC initiatives, nutritional programme, public awareness campaigns, caring and support of those infected and affected, support our care groups and volunteers and promote our ABC approaches. All of you will agree with me that, this amount to a lot of work. That is why our call for partnership remains relevant as ever.
Our Comprehensive Plan on the Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS is steadily moving into top gear. We have far surpassed the National targets of having at least 1 service point by the middle of 2005 in each district municipality. Currently we have 1-service points in all the districts in the province as prescribed by the cabinet directive. Over 1000 patients in the four sites are receiving treatment and we are expecting the numbers to increase in the New Year.
Plans are at an advanced stage to move into the second round of accrediting other service points in the province. In the first quarter of next year we are hoping to accredit, Jubilee hospital in Moretele, Potchefstroom Hospital, Thusong hospital and Ganyesa hospital respectively to expand this programme to reach thousands of people in our deep rural areas in need of this intervention.
Programme Director, I am more than convinced that we will as from today also pay special attention to our resolve as government and civil society on how best do we take the AIDS struggle to another level. This level is that of beyond awareness. Statistics and trends indicate that we have put a lot of resources and energy into the latter as we can now safely say South Africans are aware of HIV and AIDS. Adherence to good life styles, good morals and healthy eating and appropriate sexual conduct are among the other urgent issues, which should dominate the public discourse.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today in the middle of a running programme of 16 days of activism against violence on women and children and we need to add voice to the call's that please, Khomanani, let's all care together for our women and children. Let our actions count.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, North West Provincial Government
1 December 2004
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