Social Cluster briefing, delivered by Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Introduction

The social cluster has continued to make significant progress in the implementation of various programmes within its priority areas. While progress has been made on a number of fronts, this briefing will focus on the following areas:

* comprehensive social security
* comprehensive health care
* housing and human settlement
* basic services
* food security and nutrition
* Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
* education.

Comprehensive Social Security

Work has been initiated in defining what would constitute vulnerability of children older than 14 years. Following the meeting of the inter-departmental task team, the various departments have started to assess the gaps in services to vulnerable children older than 14 years of age. Policy proposals to address these gaps will be formulated and a report prepared for the July Lekgotla.

During the first quarter, the Cluster reported that a tender for a qualitative study on perverse incentives relating to social support was advertised. The public tender did not yield any proposals that fully met the requirements and the Department of Social Development will consult on a set of refinement parameters before re-publishing the tender. The Cluster will also finalise research into:

* broadening options to link persons to income support and economic opportunities
* an analysis of current government strategies designed to help people move into employment
* a literature review of international work-welfare policies in order to contextualise and compare current South African interventions.

Comprehensive health care

Efforts are being made to enhance focus on non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, asthma and hypertension. Health topics relating to these diseases were broadcast on 10 SABC regional radio stations and 60 community radio stations.

Work is underway on the implementation of an inter-sectoral strategy on the prevention of unintentional injuries. Awareness campaigns like the Arrive Alive campaign were conducted during the Easter Holidays.

The National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS for 2007-2011 was officially launched during the period under review and the implementation of comprehensive programmes on HIV and AIDS continues. This includes prevention, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), nutritional support and healthy lifestyles as well as treatment of opportunistic infections.

Preliminary reports on the 2006 antenatal survey results show a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of HIV amongst pregnant women who use public health facilities (29,1% in 2006 compared to 30,2% in 2005). The report indicates that this decline is mainly amongst people under the age of 20 years followed by those between 20 and 24. The decline in the under 20s from 15,9 % in 2005 to 13,7% in 2006 in particular suggests a possible reduction in new infections (incidence) in the population.

A cumulative total of patients started on antiretrovirals (ARVs) is 282 200 as at the end of April 2007. At least 335 public health facilities have been accredited to provide this service, including 9 Correctional Service Centres.

As part of tuberculosis (TB) control, National Infection Control guidelines for health facilities were produced and distributed to provinces and health workers were trained in infection control. Isolation guidelines were prepared, with inputs from the Departments of Correctional Services and Health, and circulated to provinces for comment before finalisation and implementation.

A meeting with the Chamber of Mines was held to standardise the use of TB treatment protocols and referrals between Mine Hospitals and the public sector.

As part of the efforts to increase the pool of health workers in the country, plans are underway to reopen the following colleges: Dora Nginza Campus in the Eastern Cape, Bona Lesedi at Leratong Hospital and the Coronation Nursing College at the Chris Hani Baragwanath - Gauteng province. Three new campuses were established at Madadeni, Prince Mshiyeni and Port Shepstone for a four year diploma - KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. Two additional campuses are being established in Limpopo.

Housing and human settlement

An Inclusionary Housing Policy has been developed in order to create housing opportunities for low cost housing in areas that are being developed by the private sector.

Work is underway to facilitate the release of the R42 billion committed by the financial institutions towards financing housing development and/or mortgages for targeted (poor and middle-income) groups. The Banking Association of South Africa (BASA) has reported that they have lent R28 billion. The Financial Services Charter Council is verifying if the lending by the banks has reached the target market segment (people earning an income between R3 500 and R7 500). A credit linked subsidy programme has been introduced, and a joint consumer education programme by banks and the Department of Housing has been launched.

A Housing Development Agency is being established and the Bill in this regard will be presented to Cabinet for consideration. In the interim, the Department will mandate one of its agencies to fulfil this function.

Basic services

More than 25 000 buckets have been replaced between January 2007 and April 2007 by more appropriate toilets. From the current rate of delivery, it is clear that the December 2007 bucket eradication target will be met as good momentum has been built by all spheres of government. About 106 000 households were still using the bucket systems in established/formal areas in May 2007.

More than 17,3 million people benefited from improved water supply for the period up to March 2007 with 7,2 million people still requiring access.

Food security and nutrition

A total of R41 million has been disbursed to more than 5 000 clients as part of the farmer support programme in the pilot provinces (Limpopo and Eastern Cape). Basic Infrastructure on state owned farms including water reticulation systems, fencing and fire breaks have been developed and provided.

The land restitution programme has settled 74 417 (out of the 79 696 lodged) claims by 31 March 2007. Last month alone, the Commission handed over about 78 000 hectares of land to claimants.

More than 5,9 million learners in 18 000 schools from Grade R to Grade 7 are benefiting from the school nutrition programme. By the end of the 2006 school year, approximately 7 400 food gardens had been established in all provinces to supplement the menu with fresh food.

In addition to the provision of meals, the Department of Education has identified a need to strengthen knowledge on and promote awareness of good nutrition and healthy lifestyles, and has distributed learning and teaching support materials to all schools that benefit from the nutrition programme.

Expanded Public Works Programme

The Social Sector Cluster is in the process of confirming the potential areas for further massification of the Expanded Public Works Programme. More than 23 000 Community Health Workers have been trained at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 1. Upgrading of 26 accredited service providers for NQF level 3 will be effected this month.

Since the release of the Education White Paper on Early Childhood Development in 2001, access to Grade R has been increased particularly for the poorest communities. Currently 450 000 children are registered in Grade R classes. A total of 5 300 practitioners are in training across the various provinces with strong monitoring support from the national Department of Education.

Education

The curriculum for 11 vocational programmes and four fundamentals of the National Certificate (Vocational) were finalised and implemented. 1 800 lecturers were trained to teach the new programmes. In the 2007 academic year, 25 000 students have enrolled for the National Certificate with subjects in the Engineering, Business, Tourism/Hospitality, Information Technology and Agricultural sectors.

An amount of R100 million has been allocated for bursaries in Further Education and Training colleges and it is benefiting more than 12 500 students. The National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is responsible for the administration of the bursaries.

The Department of Education has recently finalised the student enrolment planning exercise for the period 2007 to 2010. It is anticipated that through this planning process, universities will produce up to 2 000 graduate engineers who will be eligible for registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa.

The Department has conducted a survey of learner enrolment and textbook supply. The results of the survey indicated a shortage of Mathematics and Science textbooks for Grade 10, 11 and 12 and calculators. The Department purchased 1 900 calculators and 21 000 copies of the Study and Master textbooks for grades 11 and 12 Mathematics and Science. The Department has also commissioned the printing of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 higher grade Mathematics and Science question papers and these will be distributed to schools.

Conclusion

The report of the Social Cluster indicates that significant progress has been made in improving the social conditions of many people of South Africa. The Cluster will continue to intensify the implementation of all its priorities as outlined in the Government Programme of Action.

Issued by: Department of Health
4 July 2007