Date: 30/11/2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Lonmin Platinum's World AIDS Day event
SPEECH BY THE NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, AT THE LONMIN PLATINUM'S WORLDS AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION, 30 NOVEMBER 2003
Programme Director,
The management of Lonmin Platinum,
Honoured Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am deeply honoured to be part of the Lonmin Platinum World AIDS Day commemoration.
I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the provincial government, to applaud the management of Lonmin Platinum not only for organising this event but also for taking the bold and visionary step of introducing anti-retroviral drugs to their employees.
As the provincial government we are humbled by the commitment from Lonmin Platinum to work with the Department of Health with a view to expanding the programme on anti-retroviral drugs the broader community.
This initiative by Lonmin Platinum comes at a time when we as government are preparing for a nationwide rollout of anti-retroviral drugs as part of our comprehensive response to the scourge of HIV/AIDS. The launch of this bold initiative by Lonmin Platinum also comes at a time when the peoples of the world are commemorating World AIDS Day, a day in which humanity remembers those who have succumbed to this disease and renews its commitment to the fight against the disease.
In our country, South Africa, we are commemorating World AIDS Day under the theme: Khomanani - caring together. This theme speaks of the need for all of us as South Africans to act together and make a difference by extending support and care for those living with HIV/AIDS.
This theme also speaks of the need to continue spreading the message of prevention, care, support, voluntary testing and non-discrimination against those living with the disease.
Equally, this year's World AIDS Day theme makes a clarion call for all of us to return to the ideals of Ubuntu/Botho, the ideals of caring, of compassion and of acting together to prevent the spread of the disease. It calls on all of us to give care and support to those affected by the disease and to build partnerships against HIV/AIDS.
Clearly, the initiative by Lonmin Platinum to strengthen the national response to HIV/AIDS falls squarely within the theme for this year's World AIDS Day.
It is an indication that South Africans from all walks of life have embraced the call to fight HIV/AIDS on all fronts.
As government we continue to prioritise the fight against HIV/AIDS. We have opted for an approach that is comprehensive and have steered clear of short cuts and easy solutions.
We have resisted the temptation to act irrationally and without due considerations to the consequences of our actions. We have sought to involve all stakeholders and have avoided taking unilateral action.
We have opted to fight the disease at all fronts. Our approach has paid equal attention to prevention, care and treatment.
That today we are seeing signs that the rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence is stabilising, particularly among the youth, is an indication that our collective response to the disease is beginning to have the desired impact.
Our message of abstinence, loyalty to one partner and the use of condoms appears to be contributing massively towards the objective of changing the behavioural partners of our people.
We are encouraged by the overwhelming response by our people to the call to voluntarily test their HIV/AIDS status.
I am informed that about 55% of employees at Lonmin Platinum responded to the call for voluntary testing and counselling. This is indeed an encouraging development. It is yet another indication that our people are responding to our collective effort to fight the disease.
While we are making progress to gradually, step by step, push back the boundaries of HIV/AIDS, we are still faced with the reality that a significant number of our people are infected by the disease.
This reality calls on all of us to do even more to fight the disease. As government, as the private sector, as non-governmental organisation movements and indeed all sectors of society, we have a responsibility to ensure that we care for those infected.
We also have a responsibility to ensure that those who do not have the disease remain without it.
We must spread the message that it is critical for our people to know their HIV/AIDS status and for those infected by the disease to lead healthy life styles.
We must continue to spread the message that those infected by the disease are still members of our society and that they must not be discriminated against.
Equally, we must spread the message that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. We must make it clear to our people that anti-retroviral drugs do not cure the disease; they only arrest its progression.
It is for this reason that despite the availability of anti-retroviral drugs, it is still incumbent on our people to abstain, to be faithful to one partner and to use condoms.
We must communicate to our people that our response to HIV/AIDS needs to be comprehensive if we are to win the battle against the disease.
We must also be under no illusion that the programme to rollout anti-retroviral drugs, as directed by our government, will be an overnight process.
For the rollout to be effective, it will require a lot of investment in financial and other resources. It will demand a concerted effort on our part to upgrade our health care infrastructure, to recruit and train health care professionals and to put in place efficient drug procurement and distribution systems.
Equally, we must internalise the fact that the implementation of the anti-retroviral drugs rollout plan is a major undertaking that will require partnerships and commitment by every sector of society.
It is for this reason that we applaud interventions such as the one Lonmin Platimun is launching today.
We are confident that such intervention will go a long way in pushing back the boundaries of the diseases.
We are also encouraged by the fact that Lonmin Platinum's approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS is a comprehensive one. We commend the management on Lonmin Platinum for ensuring that the distribution of anti-retroviral drugs is but one part of a comprehensive response to the challenge of HIV/AIDS.
As government we are looking forward to working with Lonmin Platinum and other private sector role players in an effort to find appropriate and comprehensive responses to HIV/AIDS.
Once more, congratulations to the management of Lonmin Platinum for having taken this bold step.
We are truly grateful for your efforts and we are looking forward to building a lasting partnership with yourselves in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
30 November 2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Lonmin Platinum's World AIDS Day event
SPEECH BY THE NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, AT THE LONMIN PLATINUM'S WORLDS AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION, 30 NOVEMBER 2003
Programme Director,
The management of Lonmin Platinum,
Honoured Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am deeply honoured to be part of the Lonmin Platinum World AIDS Day commemoration.
I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the provincial government, to applaud the management of Lonmin Platinum not only for organising this event but also for taking the bold and visionary step of introducing anti-retroviral drugs to their employees.
As the provincial government we are humbled by the commitment from Lonmin Platinum to work with the Department of Health with a view to expanding the programme on anti-retroviral drugs the broader community.
This initiative by Lonmin Platinum comes at a time when we as government are preparing for a nationwide rollout of anti-retroviral drugs as part of our comprehensive response to the scourge of HIV/AIDS. The launch of this bold initiative by Lonmin Platinum also comes at a time when the peoples of the world are commemorating World AIDS Day, a day in which humanity remembers those who have succumbed to this disease and renews its commitment to the fight against the disease.
In our country, South Africa, we are commemorating World AIDS Day under the theme: Khomanani - caring together. This theme speaks of the need for all of us as South Africans to act together and make a difference by extending support and care for those living with HIV/AIDS.
This theme also speaks of the need to continue spreading the message of prevention, care, support, voluntary testing and non-discrimination against those living with the disease.
Equally, this year's World AIDS Day theme makes a clarion call for all of us to return to the ideals of Ubuntu/Botho, the ideals of caring, of compassion and of acting together to prevent the spread of the disease. It calls on all of us to give care and support to those affected by the disease and to build partnerships against HIV/AIDS.
Clearly, the initiative by Lonmin Platinum to strengthen the national response to HIV/AIDS falls squarely within the theme for this year's World AIDS Day.
It is an indication that South Africans from all walks of life have embraced the call to fight HIV/AIDS on all fronts.
As government we continue to prioritise the fight against HIV/AIDS. We have opted for an approach that is comprehensive and have steered clear of short cuts and easy solutions.
We have resisted the temptation to act irrationally and without due considerations to the consequences of our actions. We have sought to involve all stakeholders and have avoided taking unilateral action.
We have opted to fight the disease at all fronts. Our approach has paid equal attention to prevention, care and treatment.
That today we are seeing signs that the rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence is stabilising, particularly among the youth, is an indication that our collective response to the disease is beginning to have the desired impact.
Our message of abstinence, loyalty to one partner and the use of condoms appears to be contributing massively towards the objective of changing the behavioural partners of our people.
We are encouraged by the overwhelming response by our people to the call to voluntarily test their HIV/AIDS status.
I am informed that about 55% of employees at Lonmin Platinum responded to the call for voluntary testing and counselling. This is indeed an encouraging development. It is yet another indication that our people are responding to our collective effort to fight the disease.
While we are making progress to gradually, step by step, push back the boundaries of HIV/AIDS, we are still faced with the reality that a significant number of our people are infected by the disease.
This reality calls on all of us to do even more to fight the disease. As government, as the private sector, as non-governmental organisation movements and indeed all sectors of society, we have a responsibility to ensure that we care for those infected.
We also have a responsibility to ensure that those who do not have the disease remain without it.
We must spread the message that it is critical for our people to know their HIV/AIDS status and for those infected by the disease to lead healthy life styles.
We must continue to spread the message that those infected by the disease are still members of our society and that they must not be discriminated against.
Equally, we must spread the message that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. We must make it clear to our people that anti-retroviral drugs do not cure the disease; they only arrest its progression.
It is for this reason that despite the availability of anti-retroviral drugs, it is still incumbent on our people to abstain, to be faithful to one partner and to use condoms.
We must communicate to our people that our response to HIV/AIDS needs to be comprehensive if we are to win the battle against the disease.
We must also be under no illusion that the programme to rollout anti-retroviral drugs, as directed by our government, will be an overnight process.
For the rollout to be effective, it will require a lot of investment in financial and other resources. It will demand a concerted effort on our part to upgrade our health care infrastructure, to recruit and train health care professionals and to put in place efficient drug procurement and distribution systems.
Equally, we must internalise the fact that the implementation of the anti-retroviral drugs rollout plan is a major undertaking that will require partnerships and commitment by every sector of society.
It is for this reason that we applaud interventions such as the one Lonmin Platimun is launching today.
We are confident that such intervention will go a long way in pushing back the boundaries of the diseases.
We are also encouraged by the fact that Lonmin Platinum's approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS is a comprehensive one. We commend the management on Lonmin Platinum for ensuring that the distribution of anti-retroviral drugs is but one part of a comprehensive response to the challenge of HIV/AIDS.
As government we are looking forward to working with Lonmin Platinum and other private sector role players in an effort to find appropriate and comprehensive responses to HIV/AIDS.
Once more, congratulations to the management of Lonmin Platinum for having taken this bold step.
We are truly grateful for your efforts and we are looking forward to building a lasting partnership with yourselves in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
30 November 2003
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