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Date : 31/10/2003
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Launch of the HIV/AIDS programme of the SA Football Players Union


SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SA FOOTBALL PLAYERS UNION PROGRAMME ON HIV AND AIDS, Johannesburg, 31 October 2003

Let me first apologise for joining you this late. Over the past two days we have been meeting community health workers in Durban to discuss various issues affecting them as critical resource especially in health outreach programmes. I had to receive the outcomes and close that meeting.

Programme Director, it is a great honour for me to be part of the launch of the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) Programme on HIV and AIDS.

The impact of HIV and AIDS is directly affecting all our communities. And it is only through a strengthened partnership response that we can stop the spread of HIV infection, provide care to those infected and affected and reduce the stigma associated with AIDS. The more partners join these initiatives, the better the opportunity for us to address many of the complex issues that surround HIV and AIDS.

I would like to commend the soccer fraternity and SA Football Players Union in particular for joining hands with other sectors of our society to respond to the challenge of HIV and AIDS. I am particularly glad that you have chosen to launch this programme while the Federation of International Football (Fifa) inspectors are in South Africa to find out whether we have the capacity to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. This will send a clear message that we have a responsible soccer fraternity that is involved in addressing our social problems and the real fact that South Africa is effectively responding to HIV and AIDS.

As the Health Department, we fully support the bid to host the 2010 World Cup. We have undertaken to ensure that there is sufficient support in terms of emergency and other health services that are needed for the event of this magnitude. We are confident that the health sector is ready for this momentous task. We have successfully provided health services to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Rugby and Cricket world cups and we are looking forward to providing these services to soccer lovers from across the world.

It is critical that all of us become good ambassadors of our country and convey messages about all the hard work that is being done to ensure that we become a prosperous nation. As we go out to play in other countries, we need to tell the world that South Africans from all walks of life are involved in curbing the spread of HIV infection and reducing the impact of AIDS and their victory is certain.

The likes of Jomo Sono and Ace Ntshoelengoe shined as beacons of hope for millions of black youth during the dark days of apartheid. The current soccer heroes and heroines have a duty to promote healthy behaviour amongst our youth and the general public. I will mention the names of these stars for fear of disclosing my allegiance as far as soccer is concerned. Your popularity within our sport loving society is an important tool that we can use to inform our youth to abstain from sex, to be faithful to one partner or to use condoms. Today, you are demonstrating that, in spite of all the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, there is hope.

We are proud of the way our youth has responded to this new struggle. They are actively participating in our prevention campaigns and are coming up volunteers to support those who are infected and affected. According to the Survey of HIV Prevalence amongst women attending public antenatal clinic, the prevalence of HIV amongst teenagers has been declining since 1998. We need to build from these gains and encourage the youth to maintain safe sexual behaviour right into early adulthood and beyond.

Many people within the soccer community have been very supportive of our health activities including the response to HIV and AIDS. Earlier this year, my Department through our Khomanani's Circles of Support campaign partnered with Kaizer Chiefs, who have declared 2003 as the 'year of the child.' They have boosted our campaign by encouraging communities to assist children in need of care.

Soccer has also supported us in our tobacco control efforts and in sending a message that sports and smoking do not mix. Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga, Brian Baloyi and Shaun Bartlett were very helpful in this campaign that has had a major impact in reducing the rate of smoking amongst learners in particular. I am sure that even those who were worried about the investment into soccer when we banned tobacco sponsorship have now realized that, in fact, the prizes for soccer tournaments have substantially increased without sponsorship from tobacco companies. In fact all our sport codes are better off without the burden of carrying tobacco brands.

While players have this major responsibility to encourage healthy lifestyles amongst our people, there is also a need to attend to the special interests of these players. The soccer fame comes with its own challenges. There is a clear threat of substance abuse due to many social factors and increased temptation to have multiple partners and therefore and a higher risk of HIV infection.

These challenges require that we empower our players to manage their lives and secure a better future for themselves and their families. The SA Football Players' Union is well placed to lead this process. I am glad that today you assuming this responsibility and ensuring that our players understand issues around HIV and AIDS. We need to empower players to ensure that they take full control of their lives and they are able to make informed choices.

We all have to know that our teammates with HIV are still our teammates. HIV infection does not mean one is going to get sick and die tomorrow. Many players with HIV can play competitively for a long time so long as they take care of their health. We also need to be compassionate and support those who have developed AIDS defining illnesses. The comfort and support from friends and those close to you make a major difference in how people respond to HIV and AIDS. Stigma and shying away from friends with HIV makes their situation worse.

In conclusion Programme Director, let me officially welcome the SA Football Players Union to the Partnership Against AIDS. I am sure you are going to make a major contribution that can only further strengthen our response to HIV and AIDS.

Thank you.

Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)

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