Date: 26/11/2005
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Disability fun run as part of 16 Days of Activism
Speech by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang at the Disability Fun Run, Soweto
We are gathered here today, during the second day of the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence against Women and Children. We all know that women and children with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse and violence than the general population.
As we have this fun run today may we also salute the fallen heroes of the disability rights movement. I am certain that the spirit of comrade Friday Mavuso and the many heroes and heroines of the struggle lives on.
As South Africans with disabilities, we have a lot to celebrate. Over and above our democracy we can also celebrate the opportunities that have opened up for us with the dawn of freedom in our country. We can celebrate the victories of the disability rights movement of the seventies and the eighties. The human rights that we are enjoying as people with disabilities came about as a result of the struggles that people with disabilities waged.
When South Africa was in the height of the struggle against apartheid, people with disability did not sit at the fringes of society as spectators, but they formed part of the mainstream struggle. Many of our people became disabled as a result of apartheid violence inside and outside the country. The fact that we have South Africans with disabilities in parliament is a sign of the gallant way they fought against discrimination and oppression.
We can indeed be proud of our achievements. When the policy of free health care for persons with disabilities was announced by the President about two years ago, the national Department of Health made a commitment to eradicate the backlog in terms of provision of assistive devices.
In this regard, we distributed a total of 4770 wheelchairs and 4674 hearing aids between April 2003 and March 2004. In the last financial year, we spent about R17 million to eliminate the backlog.
We have also encouraged provinces to prioritise services for people with disabilities particularly the procurement of assistive by awarding a floating trophy every to a province that has provided the highest number of assistive devices and performed above average in providing other services to people with disabilities.
In the last five years the Department of Health at national and provincial levels has issued more than 30 000 wheelchairs and more than 18 000 hearing aids. Our view is that assistive devices are an integral part of rehabilitation, and rehabilitation is an essential tool in the equalisation of opportunities for people with disabilities. It is our contention that these devices also facilitate integration of people with disabilities into mainstream of the society and contributes towards poverty alleviation.
More still needs to be done to realise full integration of persons with disability into society. Children with disability still do not access education in the same way that other children do. Fewer adults with disabilities are employed, and most of those employed occupy lower ranks of their organisations.
We all agree that people with disabilities worldwide are amongst the poorest of the poor. They have been on the receiving end of oppression and discrimination for years. Some have been ridiculed and treated like minors for their whole lives. The link between poverty and disability has been well documented including loss of income, the costs of treatment, and marginalisation which negatively affect the economic status of those with disabilities.
We have a challenge to equip disabled persons with skills necessary to put them on par with the rest of society. Gone are the days when every blind person should be a switchboard operator, and every paraplegic a basket weaver. As much as these skills are necessary but there is a need to diversify.
The success of our athletes at Paralympics Games held in Athens last year made us all proud to be South Africans. The success of our team proves once again that, irrespective of one's physical ability status, anyone can contribute to improving quality of life, in this instance, by fostering nation building.
Despite the difficulties that they encounter on daily basis, members of the Paralympics Team demonstrate determination to rise above the constraints and reached the competitive level of performance. Natalie du Toit for instance, could have easily given up sport after her accident. She persevered and is now an international icon for her performance and the spirit she displays.
Sports people with disability have stated clearly that their activities need to be streamlined. They no longer desire to hold separate events for sports people with disability. They want to see their events being integrated into competitions for athletes who do not have disabilities.
Sport and recreation provides an ideal medium through which we can increase awareness of the negative effects of abuse. Physical activity contributes to improving health. Together with good nutrition, physical activity is an important part of our healthy lifestyle interventions against chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart and other cardiovascular diseases.
Active participation in sport and recreation can also contribute in encouraging positive behaviour amongst our youth and divert them from inappropriate activities such as smoking, alcohol and substance abuse as well as crime and violence.
As we begin the festive season, we need to remember the negative effect of irresponsible alcohol intake. We need to avoid using our roads while under the influence of alcohol, whether as motorists or pedestrians. We need to ensure that we reduce the level of violence associated with high alcohol intake. The number of deaths as well as temporary and permanent disabilities caused by violence and trauma, particularly at this time is unacceptable.
I would like to thank you for inviting me to participate in this wonderful event. I am very grateful to the organisers of this event for recognising that persons with disabilities also need to take part in physical activities that are not only recreational but also enhance your quality of life. To the runners I wish you well and as the saying goes may the best person win.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Health
26 November 2005
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Disability fun run as part of 16 Days of Activism
Speech by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang at the Disability Fun Run, Soweto
We are gathered here today, during the second day of the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence against Women and Children. We all know that women and children with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse and violence than the general population.
As we have this fun run today may we also salute the fallen heroes of the disability rights movement. I am certain that the spirit of comrade Friday Mavuso and the many heroes and heroines of the struggle lives on.
As South Africans with disabilities, we have a lot to celebrate. Over and above our democracy we can also celebrate the opportunities that have opened up for us with the dawn of freedom in our country. We can celebrate the victories of the disability rights movement of the seventies and the eighties. The human rights that we are enjoying as people with disabilities came about as a result of the struggles that people with disabilities waged.
When South Africa was in the height of the struggle against apartheid, people with disability did not sit at the fringes of society as spectators, but they formed part of the mainstream struggle. Many of our people became disabled as a result of apartheid violence inside and outside the country. The fact that we have South Africans with disabilities in parliament is a sign of the gallant way they fought against discrimination and oppression.
We can indeed be proud of our achievements. When the policy of free health care for persons with disabilities was announced by the President about two years ago, the national Department of Health made a commitment to eradicate the backlog in terms of provision of assistive devices.
In this regard, we distributed a total of 4770 wheelchairs and 4674 hearing aids between April 2003 and March 2004. In the last financial year, we spent about R17 million to eliminate the backlog.
We have also encouraged provinces to prioritise services for people with disabilities particularly the procurement of assistive by awarding a floating trophy every to a province that has provided the highest number of assistive devices and performed above average in providing other services to people with disabilities.
In the last five years the Department of Health at national and provincial levels has issued more than 30 000 wheelchairs and more than 18 000 hearing aids. Our view is that assistive devices are an integral part of rehabilitation, and rehabilitation is an essential tool in the equalisation of opportunities for people with disabilities. It is our contention that these devices also facilitate integration of people with disabilities into mainstream of the society and contributes towards poverty alleviation.
More still needs to be done to realise full integration of persons with disability into society. Children with disability still do not access education in the same way that other children do. Fewer adults with disabilities are employed, and most of those employed occupy lower ranks of their organisations.
We all agree that people with disabilities worldwide are amongst the poorest of the poor. They have been on the receiving end of oppression and discrimination for years. Some have been ridiculed and treated like minors for their whole lives. The link between poverty and disability has been well documented including loss of income, the costs of treatment, and marginalisation which negatively affect the economic status of those with disabilities.
We have a challenge to equip disabled persons with skills necessary to put them on par with the rest of society. Gone are the days when every blind person should be a switchboard operator, and every paraplegic a basket weaver. As much as these skills are necessary but there is a need to diversify.
The success of our athletes at Paralympics Games held in Athens last year made us all proud to be South Africans. The success of our team proves once again that, irrespective of one's physical ability status, anyone can contribute to improving quality of life, in this instance, by fostering nation building.
Despite the difficulties that they encounter on daily basis, members of the Paralympics Team demonstrate determination to rise above the constraints and reached the competitive level of performance. Natalie du Toit for instance, could have easily given up sport after her accident. She persevered and is now an international icon for her performance and the spirit she displays.
Sports people with disability have stated clearly that their activities need to be streamlined. They no longer desire to hold separate events for sports people with disability. They want to see their events being integrated into competitions for athletes who do not have disabilities.
Sport and recreation provides an ideal medium through which we can increase awareness of the negative effects of abuse. Physical activity contributes to improving health. Together with good nutrition, physical activity is an important part of our healthy lifestyle interventions against chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart and other cardiovascular diseases.
Active participation in sport and recreation can also contribute in encouraging positive behaviour amongst our youth and divert them from inappropriate activities such as smoking, alcohol and substance abuse as well as crime and violence.
As we begin the festive season, we need to remember the negative effect of irresponsible alcohol intake. We need to avoid using our roads while under the influence of alcohol, whether as motorists or pedestrians. We need to ensure that we reduce the level of violence associated with high alcohol intake. The number of deaths as well as temporary and permanent disabilities caused by violence and trauma, particularly at this time is unacceptable.
I would like to thank you for inviting me to participate in this wonderful event. I am very grateful to the organisers of this event for recognising that persons with disabilities also need to take part in physical activities that are not only recreational but also enhance your quality of life. To the runners I wish you well and as the saying goes may the best person win.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Health
26 November 2005
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