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Date : 26/06/2006
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking


  Address by the Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to Commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Mjindini Stadium in Barberton, Mpumalanga

MEC for Health and Social Development Mr Pogisho Pasha
Director General Mr Thami Mseleku
Executive Mayor Mr Richard Lukhele
Officials from Health, Social Development,
Defence and Premiers office
Youth Ambassadors Youth Commission
Community Leaders
NGOs, CBOs and FBOs
Barberton community
Educators and learners
Ladies and gentlemen

Good Morning

This year marks 30 years of 16 June 1976 when learners risked their lives for liberation. This was a movement of young people determined to take charge of their destiny. Today also marks 51 years of the Freedom Charter by the equally brave people who stood up and took action for our freedom. We honour them as well.

What better place to celebrate these historic moments than at Barberton, the home of Mr Sibanda who launched a successful potato strike against exploitation of workers.

This day also coincides with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to rid our streets, schoolyards and playgrounds of drugs and alcohol.

It is therefore critical that when we commemorate the day against substance abuse, we do so with renewed vigour to maintain our dignity.

The theme for this year’s campaign is Children and Drugs, under the theme “Drugs are not child’s play”!

The 2002 South African (SA) National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey, revealed that 49,1% learners drank alcohol in the country and that 4,2% learners smoked dagga before the age of 13 years.

We are very concerned about the increasing availability of drugs in our communities. This leads to instability in our families, as drugs are a casual factor for crimes perpetuated in the main by youth.

This morning, MEC Pasha, Executive Mayor Lukhele and I, accompanied by other government officials, visited the Barberton Prison’s juvenile section to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. The visit forms part of our planned activities to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking today.

Many young people are in prison today because of the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol. According to the local Municipality 80% of juveniles are at Barberton prison as a result of substance abuse. When our youth are in conflict with society, it is our duty to continue to care for them. We understand that they are in jail because of various circumstances both beyond and within their control. We hope while they are there, they will get a chance to reflect on those issues. I urge them to use their time to rehabilitate themselves, to redirect their behaviour, and to rediscover themselves as valuable members of the society.

They should not use the juvenile centres to further antisocial skills but to develop you. Nothing will help them more than skills development. Our duty is to combat antisocial behaviour. Drug abuse leads to self-destruction, destruction of society; hence harsh measures have to be taken where necessary. But, we do not like to see young people in jail. That is why even in our Constitution, we are continually exploring alternatives.

Government continues to invest in various programmes to support those who are trying to quit the habit. Motivation and counselling by communities, peer groups, health and social workers are central to all the strategies on prevention of substance abuse and promotion of healthy lifestyles. There are rehabilitation centres with youth facilities in the country, which provide essential services to help rebuild the lives of those affected. I hope that this province could also introduce such services.

As part of our build-up activities to raise awareness about substance abuse, officials from Departments of Health, Social Development and Education, local councillors, members of the Youth Commission, community caregivers and police visited three schools on Friday.

The government officials also targeted liquor outlets including shebeens and taverns, shopping centres, Umgababa area and taxi ranks to educate owners about the effects of alcohol and to discourage them from selling alcohol to school children.

The Department has finalised the health messages as part of the regulations on alcohol for labelling. The messages are: alcohol is addictive, responsible for many car accidents and alcohol foetal syndromes. The messages will be gazetted soon.

We have also drafted Detoxification guidelines to serve as protocols for primary health care workers, to treat withdrawal symptoms in patients suffering from substance abuse.

The department has introduced Brief Screening Intervention for early screening of patients for alcoholism at clinics in Limpopo as a trial project. We intend to expand the programme to other areas. We urge the province to also begin the screening.

Still on build-up activities, we are encouraged that the local communities showed enthusiasm about the campaign against substance abuse.

The discussions triggered much interest among young people. This highlights the need to strengthen partnerships with local organisations and to encourage more community involvement in issues affecting them. This morning the MEC Pasha, Executive Mayor and I led a three kilometre Health Walk from Cathville to Emjindini Stadium. Our healthy lifestyles campaign is central to our response to preventing and fighting diseases.

The healthy lifestyles campaign encourages regular physical activity, healthy eating habit, regular screening for different ailments, and it discourages irresponsible sexual behaviour, use of tobacco and substance abuse.

As part of our awareness activities, we have made provisions for screening young people for different conditions, including eye and hearing tests. Please make use of these services for early detection.

We have implemented health services at schools for your convenience. Communicate with nurses about any health problem. We also have Youth Friendly Services at clinics to improve accessibility of health services to young people.

During or Health Walk, we stopped at UmAfrica Health Centre to view their community garden project, and we are impressed by the good work they are doing. We donated garden implements to the project. We visited Jabulani Centre for young people with disabilities. We donated a wheelchair and walking crutches as a form of acknowledgement that they need to be included in all our activities.

We moved on to a Drop-in Centre for Orphans. At this project, we donated vegetables. I would urge communities to share the responsibility of caring for needy children. One also wishes that young people could be involved in assisting one another.

Our programme will continue tonight with the official opening of Youth Indaba to explore issues affecting young people. 500 young people from eight provinces with the exception of Western Cape will attend the Indaba.

The issues to be discussed at this wonderful national activity will need to be pursued beyond this indaba.

Circumcision as one of the causes of death in young people is also on the agenda. As you know, the season for circumcision has started. We need to prevent unnecessary deaths during this initiation period by having all the people responsible take all the necessary precautions and undergo training. We urge young people to go for medical checkups before enrolling for initiation, and that initiation schools should always communicate with local and provincial health offices for advice on the safety.

We are busy pushing for registration of all initiation schools to enable us to monitor their activities in order to ensure the safety of our young people. The programme continues tonight with the launch of the four-day Youth Indaba to advance the interests of young people. Government departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will hold exhibitions to showcase services and opportunities for young people.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) started two weeks ago to recruit young people for various posts in Mpumalanga. Please submit your employment forms to the SANDF. The Department of Home Affairs will do birth registrations and assist young people to obtain Identity Documents.

We are happy to partner with other government departments. Please use these opportunities wisely to advance yourself and your communities.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Health
26 June 2006
   

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