Date: 08/03/2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: G Ramokgopa: International Women's Day
SPEECH BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, Soshanguve Clinic 3, 8 March 2004
It gives me great pleasure to be here today to observe International Women's Day in a clinic that is proving to be a centre of excellence in as far as caring for survivors of sexual assault is concerned.
In June 2002 we started a programme to give victims of sexual assault anti-retroviral drugs to protect them from acquiring HIV and Aids. We started with only 10 centres and quickly rolled out to all 26 medico-legal centres with a period of 10 months. Today this critical intervention is accessible from 35 sites and 66% of these sites operate on a 24 hour basis. Last year we trained the first group of 19 nurses in forensic medicine to strengthen this programme and reduce waiting times.
Close to 8000 women and children were attended in these centres from April last year to January this. About 3300 of them qualified to receive anti-retroviral drugs. None of the people we have given drugs to have reported that they have acquired HIV.
I have no doubt that the people who have benefited from this programme will testify that democracy has worked for them and will have a reason to join in celebrations to mark a decade of democracy.
At no other time in the history of this country have women's issues occupied the centre stage as has happened in the past ten years. The health care system that we inherited was fragmented, inefficient and inaccessible. Women's health rights were not regarded as a priority.
One of the first things that the present government had to do was to restructure that health system, improve access and bring closer focus on women, children and vulnerable groups. Free medical care for pregnant and children under the age of seven was introduced by the government. This has now been extended to the disabled and the elderly.
The decision that we took as government to give women a right of choice on pregnancy has saved the lives of thousands of women. Since 1996 we have seen a 33% decrease in the proportion of early pregnancy related deaths due to ectopic pregnancies and septic abortions. This has reduced the number of women who make use of unsafe back yard abortions.
We have introduced cervical cancer screening in order to ensure early detection of cervical cancer and reduce associated deaths. This programme is now being implemented in all primary health care centres in the province. Last year alone 32 333 pap smears were done in Gauteng. We have also undertaken decisive steps to prevent violence against women.
The work of women to contain the spread of HIV infection in the province is highly laudable. The response of women when called upon to care and support those infected and affected by HIV does not go unnoticed. Throughout the province many women and their organisations have dedicated themselves to providing counselling, care and support to those infected by HIV. That is why we applaud those communities and families who have opened their hearts and homes to those directly affected by HIV.
We still need more women to join in the crusade to encourage voluntary counselling and testing, as well as creating an environment which is conducive for people to talk about their HIV status openly. We genuinely appreciate the efforts of women who have made Gauteng a better place to live for fellow women.
As part of the programme to prevent new born babies from contract HIV from their mothers, we have rolled out Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV to all hospitals and large Community Health Centres in the province. The service is also available in 69 antenatal clinics. To date more than 20 000 women have benefited from this programme.
We have also opened voluntary counselling and testing sites throughout the province. More than 170 sites are operational and they have assisted 40 000 people to know their status and modify their life styles.
The current generation of youngsters and young doctors graduating from medical schools have no experience of measles because we eradicated from our province. We have improved immunisation coverage to 79% and thus given our children a chance to lead a better life. Timeous immunization of children is crucial because it prevents avoidable illnesses among our children.
These are the fruit of a government that works together with the people. We are on course towards having Gauteng declared Polio free by 2005.
It has become very clear to me that we have come so far because women have learnt to be advocates for their fate. We must continue to take charge of our destiny in every facet of our lives in order to own and cherish success which awaits us in future.
We must continue to give support to women who have been traumatised by sexual assault. We are concerned that fewer women are completing the monthly treatment we give them to stop the spread of HIV. Figures from our centres show that an average of only 28% of women who receive the 28 days treatment complete it.
We are concerned about this because as government we are getting ready to start providing AIDS drugs to all people with Aids. In Gauteng we have identified 23 sites, hospitals and clinics, where the programme will start. The sites have been accredited and training personnel is currently underway.
When that programme starts we have to make sure that people can adhere to the treatment. We have to support them at home, in the community, at work and in health facilities.
We will have to take lessons from this clinic which is succeeding in getting 68% of survivors of rape to finish their treatment. I would like to thank the staff and support groups for making this programme a success. Your initiative, dedication and commitment is commendable. We are proud of you.
For more information contact Simon Zwane Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 March 2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: G Ramokgopa: International Women's Day
SPEECH BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, Soshanguve Clinic 3, 8 March 2004
It gives me great pleasure to be here today to observe International Women's Day in a clinic that is proving to be a centre of excellence in as far as caring for survivors of sexual assault is concerned.
In June 2002 we started a programme to give victims of sexual assault anti-retroviral drugs to protect them from acquiring HIV and Aids. We started with only 10 centres and quickly rolled out to all 26 medico-legal centres with a period of 10 months. Today this critical intervention is accessible from 35 sites and 66% of these sites operate on a 24 hour basis. Last year we trained the first group of 19 nurses in forensic medicine to strengthen this programme and reduce waiting times.
Close to 8000 women and children were attended in these centres from April last year to January this. About 3300 of them qualified to receive anti-retroviral drugs. None of the people we have given drugs to have reported that they have acquired HIV.
I have no doubt that the people who have benefited from this programme will testify that democracy has worked for them and will have a reason to join in celebrations to mark a decade of democracy.
At no other time in the history of this country have women's issues occupied the centre stage as has happened in the past ten years. The health care system that we inherited was fragmented, inefficient and inaccessible. Women's health rights were not regarded as a priority.
One of the first things that the present government had to do was to restructure that health system, improve access and bring closer focus on women, children and vulnerable groups. Free medical care for pregnant and children under the age of seven was introduced by the government. This has now been extended to the disabled and the elderly.
The decision that we took as government to give women a right of choice on pregnancy has saved the lives of thousands of women. Since 1996 we have seen a 33% decrease in the proportion of early pregnancy related deaths due to ectopic pregnancies and septic abortions. This has reduced the number of women who make use of unsafe back yard abortions.
We have introduced cervical cancer screening in order to ensure early detection of cervical cancer and reduce associated deaths. This programme is now being implemented in all primary health care centres in the province. Last year alone 32 333 pap smears were done in Gauteng. We have also undertaken decisive steps to prevent violence against women.
The work of women to contain the spread of HIV infection in the province is highly laudable. The response of women when called upon to care and support those infected and affected by HIV does not go unnoticed. Throughout the province many women and their organisations have dedicated themselves to providing counselling, care and support to those infected by HIV. That is why we applaud those communities and families who have opened their hearts and homes to those directly affected by HIV.
We still need more women to join in the crusade to encourage voluntary counselling and testing, as well as creating an environment which is conducive for people to talk about their HIV status openly. We genuinely appreciate the efforts of women who have made Gauteng a better place to live for fellow women.
As part of the programme to prevent new born babies from contract HIV from their mothers, we have rolled out Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV to all hospitals and large Community Health Centres in the province. The service is also available in 69 antenatal clinics. To date more than 20 000 women have benefited from this programme.
We have also opened voluntary counselling and testing sites throughout the province. More than 170 sites are operational and they have assisted 40 000 people to know their status and modify their life styles.
The current generation of youngsters and young doctors graduating from medical schools have no experience of measles because we eradicated from our province. We have improved immunisation coverage to 79% and thus given our children a chance to lead a better life. Timeous immunization of children is crucial because it prevents avoidable illnesses among our children.
These are the fruit of a government that works together with the people. We are on course towards having Gauteng declared Polio free by 2005.
It has become very clear to me that we have come so far because women have learnt to be advocates for their fate. We must continue to take charge of our destiny in every facet of our lives in order to own and cherish success which awaits us in future.
We must continue to give support to women who have been traumatised by sexual assault. We are concerned that fewer women are completing the monthly treatment we give them to stop the spread of HIV. Figures from our centres show that an average of only 28% of women who receive the 28 days treatment complete it.
We are concerned about this because as government we are getting ready to start providing AIDS drugs to all people with Aids. In Gauteng we have identified 23 sites, hospitals and clinics, where the programme will start. The sites have been accredited and training personnel is currently underway.
When that programme starts we have to make sure that people can adhere to the treatment. We have to support them at home, in the community, at work and in health facilities.
We will have to take lessons from this clinic which is succeeding in getting 68% of survivors of rape to finish their treatment. I would like to thank the staff and support groups for making this programme a success. Your initiative, dedication and commitment is commendable. We are proud of you.
For more information contact Simon Zwane Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 March 2004
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