Date: 15/05/2005
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Ramokgopa: International Candlelight Memorial Day ceremony
Speech by Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, at AIDS Candlelight Ceremony, Charity and Faith Mission Church, Mamelodi
Programme director
Church leaders
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. We are living in a time in our history when the glimmer of hope is shining deeply in the horizon. It is therefore fitting that we meet on an occasion like this one at Charity and Faith Mission Church, an institution that is involved with us in our efforts to give hope to people living with HIV and AIDS, to seek solace and guidance in our faith. I want to commend leaders of church for taking bold initiative of opening a voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) site here.
The VCT site that we have in this church is the only site in the whole of Mamelodi that is situated at a facility that is not a clinic or hospital. Seven other VCT sites that we have in Mamelodi are in clinics and a hospital, Mamelodi Hospital. More than 13 000 received help from these facilities, included the one situated at this church, last year.
There are 301 VCT sites in the whole province and last year they attended to 168 000 people.
HIV and AIDS have been with us for more than two decades and are affecting all of without exception. However, it is the poor, the illiterate, the marginalised, women and children who mostly bear the brunt of this pandemic.
We have reached a stage now where dealing with information and awareness alone is no longer adequate. We have to face the reality of people who are sick, who are dying and leaving young orphans behind. It is a time to show care and compassion and to work vigorous in search of a cure.
The church has always played a role of caring for those who are weak and in need of support. The care that you have given has not been limited only to the message of hope and spiritual well-being.
But you have been able to initiate programmes that really make a difference in the lives of those in need of care particularly the children. I am convinced that the church can play a major role in fighting the stigma that is associated with HIV and AIDS and encourage openness and positive living among those who are infected and affected.
The faith sector is the biggest non-governmental organisation (NGO) and, because it is positioned at the heart of society, it has an abundant potential to lead the HIV and AIDS response.
Prevention remains the cornerstone of our comprehensive HIV and AIDS management, treatment and care strategy. Of particular importance at this time of our history is to focus our attention closely on strengthening prevention through youth programmes that build a solid foundation concerning sexuality, responsible adulthood and marriage.
Working hand in hand with government the faith community can assist in promoting 'family fostering' for those who have lost their parents or guardians. It can also effectively take part in providing home base care which may include:
* home visits for prayer and scripture reading
* meeting physical needs for food, clothing,medical attention
* assistance in planning for the future of the family particularly children
* support for orphaned children
* assisting with basic household activities such as shopping, cleaning the house or washing clothes.
Programme Director, a flicker of light is beginning to shine at the end of the tunnel. Today we have more reasons to be hopeful.
An analysis of the HIV prevalence over the past three year shows that HIV infection is beginning to level off although at high levels of 29.6%. The prevalence of the virus among the youth below 25 years is declining. According to the Behavioural Surveillance Survey 70% of young people says they are using condoms consistently.
Research studies show that there are more people who say they are prepared to look after someone who are sick with AIDS. This is an indication that the stigma is beginning to break down.
This year we mark the first year since we included anti-retroviral treatment (ART) in our comprehensive HIV and AIDS management, treatment and care strategy. In our last financial year increased the HIV and AIDS budget by 115% to R334 million we promised to that we will provide that our comprehensive strategy including antiretroviral therapy will be implemented in 23 facilities reaching 10 000 people.
We have fulfilled that promise and next month I will be tabling a new budget and new targets. Among the new plans I will announce will be the extension of the comprehensive HIV and AIDS strategy including anti-retroviral therapy to Mamelodi Hospital and Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre. I have no doubt they will also be achieve because we are committed to the fight against this pandemic. We also trust in the partnership we have with others such as this church to help us bring hope to our people.
I believe that we need to constantly send a positive message about HIV and AIDS. We need to tell people that just because you are HIV positive today, it does not mean you will get AIDS tomorrow and die.
We have to advise those infected and affected by HIV that by eating nutritious food, managing their stress, treating any infection promptly including sexually transmitted infections and using condoms, they can live longer and lead a healthy and productive life for many years before they reach a stage they need to antiretroviral treatment.
I strongly believe that in the spirit of love, compassion and care, through collective efforts to confront and to challenge discrimination and to empower our respective believers, we can overcome many of the challenges posed to us by HIV and AIDS.
In conclusion I would like us to remind ourselves of a declaration called "A commitment of HIV and AIDS by people of faith", which was signed in Washington in 1994. One section of the declaration said and I quote: "We are called by God to affirm a life of hope and healing in the midst of HIV and AIDS. Our traditions call us to embody and proclaim hope, and to celebrate life and healing in the midst of suffering."
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
15 May 2005
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Ramokgopa: International Candlelight Memorial Day ceremony
Speech by Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, at AIDS Candlelight Ceremony, Charity and Faith Mission Church, Mamelodi
Programme director
Church leaders
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. We are living in a time in our history when the glimmer of hope is shining deeply in the horizon. It is therefore fitting that we meet on an occasion like this one at Charity and Faith Mission Church, an institution that is involved with us in our efforts to give hope to people living with HIV and AIDS, to seek solace and guidance in our faith. I want to commend leaders of church for taking bold initiative of opening a voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) site here.
The VCT site that we have in this church is the only site in the whole of Mamelodi that is situated at a facility that is not a clinic or hospital. Seven other VCT sites that we have in Mamelodi are in clinics and a hospital, Mamelodi Hospital. More than 13 000 received help from these facilities, included the one situated at this church, last year.
There are 301 VCT sites in the whole province and last year they attended to 168 000 people.
HIV and AIDS have been with us for more than two decades and are affecting all of without exception. However, it is the poor, the illiterate, the marginalised, women and children who mostly bear the brunt of this pandemic.
We have reached a stage now where dealing with information and awareness alone is no longer adequate. We have to face the reality of people who are sick, who are dying and leaving young orphans behind. It is a time to show care and compassion and to work vigorous in search of a cure.
The church has always played a role of caring for those who are weak and in need of support. The care that you have given has not been limited only to the message of hope and spiritual well-being.
But you have been able to initiate programmes that really make a difference in the lives of those in need of care particularly the children. I am convinced that the church can play a major role in fighting the stigma that is associated with HIV and AIDS and encourage openness and positive living among those who are infected and affected.
The faith sector is the biggest non-governmental organisation (NGO) and, because it is positioned at the heart of society, it has an abundant potential to lead the HIV and AIDS response.
Prevention remains the cornerstone of our comprehensive HIV and AIDS management, treatment and care strategy. Of particular importance at this time of our history is to focus our attention closely on strengthening prevention through youth programmes that build a solid foundation concerning sexuality, responsible adulthood and marriage.
Working hand in hand with government the faith community can assist in promoting 'family fostering' for those who have lost their parents or guardians. It can also effectively take part in providing home base care which may include:
* home visits for prayer and scripture reading
* meeting physical needs for food, clothing,medical attention
* assistance in planning for the future of the family particularly children
* support for orphaned children
* assisting with basic household activities such as shopping, cleaning the house or washing clothes.
Programme Director, a flicker of light is beginning to shine at the end of the tunnel. Today we have more reasons to be hopeful.
An analysis of the HIV prevalence over the past three year shows that HIV infection is beginning to level off although at high levels of 29.6%. The prevalence of the virus among the youth below 25 years is declining. According to the Behavioural Surveillance Survey 70% of young people says they are using condoms consistently.
Research studies show that there are more people who say they are prepared to look after someone who are sick with AIDS. This is an indication that the stigma is beginning to break down.
This year we mark the first year since we included anti-retroviral treatment (ART) in our comprehensive HIV and AIDS management, treatment and care strategy. In our last financial year increased the HIV and AIDS budget by 115% to R334 million we promised to that we will provide that our comprehensive strategy including antiretroviral therapy will be implemented in 23 facilities reaching 10 000 people.
We have fulfilled that promise and next month I will be tabling a new budget and new targets. Among the new plans I will announce will be the extension of the comprehensive HIV and AIDS strategy including anti-retroviral therapy to Mamelodi Hospital and Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre. I have no doubt they will also be achieve because we are committed to the fight against this pandemic. We also trust in the partnership we have with others such as this church to help us bring hope to our people.
I believe that we need to constantly send a positive message about HIV and AIDS. We need to tell people that just because you are HIV positive today, it does not mean you will get AIDS tomorrow and die.
We have to advise those infected and affected by HIV that by eating nutritious food, managing their stress, treating any infection promptly including sexually transmitted infections and using condoms, they can live longer and lead a healthy and productive life for many years before they reach a stage they need to antiretroviral treatment.
I strongly believe that in the spirit of love, compassion and care, through collective efforts to confront and to challenge discrimination and to empower our respective believers, we can overcome many of the challenges posed to us by HIV and AIDS.
In conclusion I would like us to remind ourselves of a declaration called "A commitment of HIV and AIDS by people of faith", which was signed in Washington in 1994. One section of the declaration said and I quote: "We are called by God to affirm a life of hope and healing in the midst of HIV and AIDS. Our traditions call us to embody and proclaim hope, and to celebrate life and healing in the midst of suffering."
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
15 May 2005
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