Date: 01/12/2006
Source: KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: World Aids Day
Keynote address by the Honourable Sibusiso Ndebele, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, on World Aids Day, Umzinto Sports Ground
Programme Director
Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
Members of the Provincial Executive Council
Members of national Parliament who are with us today
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Mayors and Councillors of Local Government
Amakhosi present
Religious leaders
Heads of Department
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
People of the province
Let me quote a pledge we made to the people of KwaZulu-Natal during the State of the Province in 2005: "Other major thrust in providing service to our people is the provision of health services. Again, our challenges are daunting! We must redouble our efforts in addressing the scourge of HIV and AIDS pandemic."
Today, on 1 December we are commemorating the World AIDS Day and we remember the pledge. This is an international day of action on HIV and AIDS. World AIDS Day was established by the World Health Organisation in 1988 to focus attention on the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Observance of this day provides an opportunity for governments, non-government organisations, churches, community organisations and individuals to demonstrate the importance of the fight against HIV and AIDS pandemic.
Annually, our country joins other nations of the world, in commemorating World AIDS Day. The province of KwaZulu-Natal is no exception. We are gathered here today to say to our people, we are not going to bow down. We are going to continue fighting until we arrest this dreadful pandemic.
Fighting for a healthier life
What is important for us is to ensure that what we do will bring about long-term impact in terms of reducing the spread of HIV and mitigating its impact. In order to achieve this, we need to address underlying factors and forces that drive the epidemic such as poverty, unemployment, gender relations etc. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, by its very nature, plays an inspirational role in combating other underlying factors like gender discrimination, child abuse, and violation of the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.
One of priorities of this provincial government is the implementation of provincial comprehensive integrated response to HIV and AIDS. The co-ordination and facilitation of the development and implementation of an integrated and multi-sectoral Provincial HIV and AIDS Response Strategy happen under the direct leadership of the Honourable Premier. The province has made significant progress towards the implementation of the national comprehensive plan for treatment, care and support of HIV and AIDS.
Major focus should be on preventing new infections. Voluntary counselling and testing is one of the most important measures in the prevention of HIV infection. The service is available at 100% provincial facilities (672 sites) and over 57 non-medical sites. The intention of this programme is to encourage every citizen to know their HIV status. Antenatal prevalence is on average 38%. Training programmes are offered on an on-going basis to change those obstetric practices that are risk factors for mother-to-child transmission.
The unfortunate consequences of HIV and AIDS are the rising number of orphans and vulnerable children. Parents are suffering and some are dying. Children have no one to support and look after them. They face the reality of abuse and exploitation. Children without the guidance and protection of their primary caregivers are often more vulnerable and at risk of becoming victims of violence, exploitation, trafficking, discrimination or other abuses.
AIDS Council
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial AIDS Council will soon be in place. Members of the public have been invited, through the Provincial Gazette and media adverts, to nominate suitable individuals to represent various sectors and submit to the Office of the Premier. The Premier will appoint suitable members to the Council from the list of nominations. As we have said it before, HIV and AIDS cannot be tackled by Government alone; a multi-sectoral approach is required. Non-government sector organisations, business, faith-based, and community-based organisations, affected and infected persons and ordinary citizens and individuals have to play a significant role in arresting the spread of HIV and AIDS. We believe that the provincial AIDS Council will ensure meaningful contribution by civil society to our provincial HIV and AIDS response.
Meaningful partnerships should be forged and managed appropriately for the benefit of all infected and affected. The mandate of the provincial AIDS Council is in line with South African National AIDS Council which is under the direct leadership of Deputy President.
The provincial government has also put the issue of employee wellness at the top of its agenda. We are in a process of starting the Provincial Employee Wellness Programme. The primary goal of the programme is to enhance the well being of provincial government employees in line with the national guidelines developed by the Department of Public Service and Administration by increasing employees awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and health risks providing support to employees in making healthy lifestyle choices assisting in the development of supportive workplace environments in order to meet health promotion goals.
Hands on approach
To commemorate the World AIDS Day this year, we decided to do something different. We adopted a hands-on approach where myself, Honourable Speaker and my colleagues in Executive Council and Members of Parliament, led different teams and visited households who are hard-hit by the pandemic. The experiences of this morning are painful. A household headed by a young girl, 15 years old, is now mother, father, breadwinner, and everything to her siblings since they lost their parents a couple of years ago is really something that we should not fold our arms and watch as if we are watching a Hollywood movie.
What we should know is that HIV and AIDS is one of the biggest threats to human life, prosperity, security and development. As government, we recommit ourselves in dealing with the issues of HIV and AIDS and other related illnesses, such as tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), decisively by "Strengthening of the provincial HIV and AIDS multi-sectoral response."
Deepening of collaboration with all stakeholders
"Investing in monitoring, evaluation and research for continual evaluation and improvement in the quality of care.
As we commemorate the World AIDS Day 2006 at Ugu, I affirm the district's commitment in creating an enabling environment by establishing the Ugu District AIDS Council. I would like to invite the Honourable Mayor Councillor S. Cele and the members of the AIDS Council to come forward as I today officially launch the Ugu District AIDS Council.
Before I conclude, I wish to remind us all that this is an important week in our history. Tomorrow we will gather at Pietermaritzburg for the re-burial of our hero, our freedom fighter, unifier of our people, Baba Moses Mabhida who died in Maputo. His remains were brought back home from Mozambique last week.
As we are commemorating the World AIDS Day, let us love one another, let us love persons who are HIV and AIDS infected and affected, let us love our children, let us love our orphans, let us love grandmothers who become carers, let us love all.
December is the month of love. I therefore take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy festive season.
Masisukume Sakhe
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 December 2006
Source: KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: World Aids Day
Keynote address by the Honourable Sibusiso Ndebele, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, on World Aids Day, Umzinto Sports Ground
Programme Director
Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
Members of the Provincial Executive Council
Members of national Parliament who are with us today
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Mayors and Councillors of Local Government
Amakhosi present
Religious leaders
Heads of Department
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
People of the province
Let me quote a pledge we made to the people of KwaZulu-Natal during the State of the Province in 2005: "Other major thrust in providing service to our people is the provision of health services. Again, our challenges are daunting! We must redouble our efforts in addressing the scourge of HIV and AIDS pandemic."
Today, on 1 December we are commemorating the World AIDS Day and we remember the pledge. This is an international day of action on HIV and AIDS. World AIDS Day was established by the World Health Organisation in 1988 to focus attention on the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Observance of this day provides an opportunity for governments, non-government organisations, churches, community organisations and individuals to demonstrate the importance of the fight against HIV and AIDS pandemic.
Annually, our country joins other nations of the world, in commemorating World AIDS Day. The province of KwaZulu-Natal is no exception. We are gathered here today to say to our people, we are not going to bow down. We are going to continue fighting until we arrest this dreadful pandemic.
Fighting for a healthier life
What is important for us is to ensure that what we do will bring about long-term impact in terms of reducing the spread of HIV and mitigating its impact. In order to achieve this, we need to address underlying factors and forces that drive the epidemic such as poverty, unemployment, gender relations etc. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, by its very nature, plays an inspirational role in combating other underlying factors like gender discrimination, child abuse, and violation of the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.
One of priorities of this provincial government is the implementation of provincial comprehensive integrated response to HIV and AIDS. The co-ordination and facilitation of the development and implementation of an integrated and multi-sectoral Provincial HIV and AIDS Response Strategy happen under the direct leadership of the Honourable Premier. The province has made significant progress towards the implementation of the national comprehensive plan for treatment, care and support of HIV and AIDS.
Major focus should be on preventing new infections. Voluntary counselling and testing is one of the most important measures in the prevention of HIV infection. The service is available at 100% provincial facilities (672 sites) and over 57 non-medical sites. The intention of this programme is to encourage every citizen to know their HIV status. Antenatal prevalence is on average 38%. Training programmes are offered on an on-going basis to change those obstetric practices that are risk factors for mother-to-child transmission.
The unfortunate consequences of HIV and AIDS are the rising number of orphans and vulnerable children. Parents are suffering and some are dying. Children have no one to support and look after them. They face the reality of abuse and exploitation. Children without the guidance and protection of their primary caregivers are often more vulnerable and at risk of becoming victims of violence, exploitation, trafficking, discrimination or other abuses.
AIDS Council
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial AIDS Council will soon be in place. Members of the public have been invited, through the Provincial Gazette and media adverts, to nominate suitable individuals to represent various sectors and submit to the Office of the Premier. The Premier will appoint suitable members to the Council from the list of nominations. As we have said it before, HIV and AIDS cannot be tackled by Government alone; a multi-sectoral approach is required. Non-government sector organisations, business, faith-based, and community-based organisations, affected and infected persons and ordinary citizens and individuals have to play a significant role in arresting the spread of HIV and AIDS. We believe that the provincial AIDS Council will ensure meaningful contribution by civil society to our provincial HIV and AIDS response.
Meaningful partnerships should be forged and managed appropriately for the benefit of all infected and affected. The mandate of the provincial AIDS Council is in line with South African National AIDS Council which is under the direct leadership of Deputy President.
The provincial government has also put the issue of employee wellness at the top of its agenda. We are in a process of starting the Provincial Employee Wellness Programme. The primary goal of the programme is to enhance the well being of provincial government employees in line with the national guidelines developed by the Department of Public Service and Administration by increasing employees awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and health risks providing support to employees in making healthy lifestyle choices assisting in the development of supportive workplace environments in order to meet health promotion goals.
Hands on approach
To commemorate the World AIDS Day this year, we decided to do something different. We adopted a hands-on approach where myself, Honourable Speaker and my colleagues in Executive Council and Members of Parliament, led different teams and visited households who are hard-hit by the pandemic. The experiences of this morning are painful. A household headed by a young girl, 15 years old, is now mother, father, breadwinner, and everything to her siblings since they lost their parents a couple of years ago is really something that we should not fold our arms and watch as if we are watching a Hollywood movie.
What we should know is that HIV and AIDS is one of the biggest threats to human life, prosperity, security and development. As government, we recommit ourselves in dealing with the issues of HIV and AIDS and other related illnesses, such as tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), decisively by "Strengthening of the provincial HIV and AIDS multi-sectoral response."
Deepening of collaboration with all stakeholders
"Investing in monitoring, evaluation and research for continual evaluation and improvement in the quality of care.
As we commemorate the World AIDS Day 2006 at Ugu, I affirm the district's commitment in creating an enabling environment by establishing the Ugu District AIDS Council. I would like to invite the Honourable Mayor Councillor S. Cele and the members of the AIDS Council to come forward as I today officially launch the Ugu District AIDS Council.
Before I conclude, I wish to remind us all that this is an important week in our history. Tomorrow we will gather at Pietermaritzburg for the re-burial of our hero, our freedom fighter, unifier of our people, Baba Moses Mabhida who died in Maputo. His remains were brought back home from Mozambique last week.
As we are commemorating the World AIDS Day, let us love one another, let us love persons who are HIV and AIDS infected and affected, let us love our children, let us love our orphans, let us love grandmothers who become carers, let us love all.
December is the month of love. I therefore take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy festive season.
Masisukume Sakhe
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 December 2006
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