Date: 31/07/2003
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Media briefing following Cabinet Lekgotla
SOCIAL CLUSTER POST CABINET LEKGOTLA MEDIA BRIEFING, PRESENTED BY DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIAL CLUSTER, 31 July 2003
As the Social Cluster, we presented a detailed report to Cabinet Lekgotla which covered the on-going programmes that address many social challenges in the country. The report highlighted some of the work being undertaken for example in the area of emerging and re-emerging diseases and continued extension of access to basic services such as water and sanitation.
Earlier this month, we celebrated the delivery of water to the 9 millionth person served by the Department of Water Affairs' rural programme. Government as a whole has supplied water to estimated 16 million people through housing and urban programmes. A draft White Paper on Water Services has been developed and will be submitted to Cabinet soon. Government has also provided improved sanitation to estimated 2,3 million people last year and the unacceptable bucket system is being eradicated.
There were at least three strategic areas that we wanted the Lekgotla to discuss and take some decisions on. These are the Comprehensive Social Security, Food Security and Nutrition as well as the general direction of the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programmes.
The extension of the child support grant to children from 7 years of age to the 14th birthday is being phased in over a three-year period, starting with children 7 and 8 years in the 2003/04 financial year.
From 1 April, about 274,615 children were registered, and 220 287 new grants were issued for payment during the first quarter of the financial year. This is actually 42 282 more than the target of 232 334 children that had to be registered by June this year.
Administrative systems and logistics are being strengthened to ensure continued effective delivery as we further extend the net. This includes major efforts to ensure that people obtain identity documents and birth certificates that are crucial for accessing these services. Overall, we are satisfied with this progress.
Cabinet noted that the implementation of its decision to provide free health services to people with disability commenced on July 1 and that the national government has committed an estimated R30 million to help provinces clear backlogs in the provision of assistive devices, particularly wheelchairs and hearing aids. This should bring major relief for our disabled and mostly poor people who have been suffering for many years.
An assessment tool and training manual has been developed. The Departments of Health and Social Department are working together to close loopholes for corruption particularly around the definition of disability.
Cabinet noted that a Nutritional Supplementation Strategy for People with TB and AIDS has been developed and nutrition guidelines for in-patients with TB and AIDS have been drafted. It further noted that the other work, particularly related to the response to TB, the containment of cholera and the rolling back of malaria is proceeding apace. Cabinet noted that the Joint Health/Treasury Task Team Report on an enhanced AIDS related treatment programme will be presented to Cabinet soon for substantive discussion on this matter.
Cabinet also noted that much progress has been made to eliminate the phenomenon of 'learners under trees' and 'learners in unsuitable conditions' since this matter was addressed in last year's State of the Nation Address. All provinces have made remarkable strides in addressing critical infrastructure shortages and the cluster will ensure that these backlogs are eliminated by 2004/2005.
The cluster also presented a framework on Comprehensive Social Security, which focuses on integrating social security and economic goals within a wider developmental strategy. A comprehensive social security system should comprise an integrated package of measures focused on alleviating and reducing poverty.
The package approach has the advantage of tackling poverty from different angles, and reduces dependency on any one measure. It also addresses the risk of one-poverty eradication measure being undermined because of an individual's urgent need to alleviate other forms of poverty.
The cluster review of basic minimum service provision found that Government programmes to address deprivation in health, education, housing, land, basic services such as access to water and sanitation, electricity and access to credit are well conceived and potentially well targeted.
However there are administrative and institutional barriers that curtail impact. There is a need for increased co-ordination and integration in the delivery of services and monitoring and evaluation of programs. There is also a need for strengthening of SMME development and poverty eradication programmes.
The cluster will use the Comprehensive Social Security framework as approved by Cabinet to also identify gaps and inconsistencies in the implementation of various programmes and develop a standard measure of poverty that can be used annually to assess the impact of policy.
Cabinet also agreed that a new social grant administration and payment system (Social Security Agency) as approved by Cabinet recently is going to be piloted in the Eastern Cape.
The policy approach on Social Health Insurance was noted and the implementation strategy will be submitted in detail to Cabinet for approval after the Lekgotla.
Cabinet noted the progress that is being made in implementing the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme and the challenges in linking the beneficiaries to the formal social safety net including the provision of agricultural starter packs.
To ensure that beneficiary households do not relapse into vulnerability, Cabinet decided to extend the food parcel to the original Band 'A' beneficiaries covered during the 2002/03 allocation (244 000 households) for another three months to provide for reasonable timeframes for implementing the linkages of the model. This is the category of households that spends less than R200 per month on food.
Cabinet also noted the introduction of Vitamin A supplementation and food fortification to improve the nutrition of vulnerable sectors of the population. Regulations for the mandatory fortification of all maize meal and wheaten flour with vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron and zinc becomes effective in October this year. An auditing system, monitoring procedures and methodology for fortification are already in place for effective implementation.
With regard to Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programmes, Cabinet took decisions that seek to streamline our work in nodal areas. It was decided that Cabinet champions of these nodal points should report periodically on the progress in these areas. National and provincial champions should synchronise their visits to nodal areas. Provincial growth and development strategies are going to be aligned with integrated development plans at local government level. Financing protocol for nodal points is going to be developed to ensure proper budgeting.
I have lifted these few issues as priority areas that we requested Cabinet Lekgotla to discuss and give direction. I am sure my colleagues will be able to elaborate on these and other points that were addressed at the Lekgotla.
Contacts: Sibani Mngadi on 0827720161, mngads@health.gov.za, Mbulelo Musi on 082 904 3395, mbulelo.musi@socdeve.gov.za
Issued by Ministry of Health
31 July 2003
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Media briefing following Cabinet Lekgotla
SOCIAL CLUSTER POST CABINET LEKGOTLA MEDIA BRIEFING, PRESENTED BY DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIAL CLUSTER, 31 July 2003
As the Social Cluster, we presented a detailed report to Cabinet Lekgotla which covered the on-going programmes that address many social challenges in the country. The report highlighted some of the work being undertaken for example in the area of emerging and re-emerging diseases and continued extension of access to basic services such as water and sanitation.
Earlier this month, we celebrated the delivery of water to the 9 millionth person served by the Department of Water Affairs' rural programme. Government as a whole has supplied water to estimated 16 million people through housing and urban programmes. A draft White Paper on Water Services has been developed and will be submitted to Cabinet soon. Government has also provided improved sanitation to estimated 2,3 million people last year and the unacceptable bucket system is being eradicated.
There were at least three strategic areas that we wanted the Lekgotla to discuss and take some decisions on. These are the Comprehensive Social Security, Food Security and Nutrition as well as the general direction of the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programmes.
The extension of the child support grant to children from 7 years of age to the 14th birthday is being phased in over a three-year period, starting with children 7 and 8 years in the 2003/04 financial year.
From 1 April, about 274,615 children were registered, and 220 287 new grants were issued for payment during the first quarter of the financial year. This is actually 42 282 more than the target of 232 334 children that had to be registered by June this year.
Administrative systems and logistics are being strengthened to ensure continued effective delivery as we further extend the net. This includes major efforts to ensure that people obtain identity documents and birth certificates that are crucial for accessing these services. Overall, we are satisfied with this progress.
Cabinet noted that the implementation of its decision to provide free health services to people with disability commenced on July 1 and that the national government has committed an estimated R30 million to help provinces clear backlogs in the provision of assistive devices, particularly wheelchairs and hearing aids. This should bring major relief for our disabled and mostly poor people who have been suffering for many years.
An assessment tool and training manual has been developed. The Departments of Health and Social Department are working together to close loopholes for corruption particularly around the definition of disability.
Cabinet noted that a Nutritional Supplementation Strategy for People with TB and AIDS has been developed and nutrition guidelines for in-patients with TB and AIDS have been drafted. It further noted that the other work, particularly related to the response to TB, the containment of cholera and the rolling back of malaria is proceeding apace. Cabinet noted that the Joint Health/Treasury Task Team Report on an enhanced AIDS related treatment programme will be presented to Cabinet soon for substantive discussion on this matter.
Cabinet also noted that much progress has been made to eliminate the phenomenon of 'learners under trees' and 'learners in unsuitable conditions' since this matter was addressed in last year's State of the Nation Address. All provinces have made remarkable strides in addressing critical infrastructure shortages and the cluster will ensure that these backlogs are eliminated by 2004/2005.
The cluster also presented a framework on Comprehensive Social Security, which focuses on integrating social security and economic goals within a wider developmental strategy. A comprehensive social security system should comprise an integrated package of measures focused on alleviating and reducing poverty.
The package approach has the advantage of tackling poverty from different angles, and reduces dependency on any one measure. It also addresses the risk of one-poverty eradication measure being undermined because of an individual's urgent need to alleviate other forms of poverty.
The cluster review of basic minimum service provision found that Government programmes to address deprivation in health, education, housing, land, basic services such as access to water and sanitation, electricity and access to credit are well conceived and potentially well targeted.
However there are administrative and institutional barriers that curtail impact. There is a need for increased co-ordination and integration in the delivery of services and monitoring and evaluation of programs. There is also a need for strengthening of SMME development and poverty eradication programmes.
The cluster will use the Comprehensive Social Security framework as approved by Cabinet to also identify gaps and inconsistencies in the implementation of various programmes and develop a standard measure of poverty that can be used annually to assess the impact of policy.
Cabinet also agreed that a new social grant administration and payment system (Social Security Agency) as approved by Cabinet recently is going to be piloted in the Eastern Cape.
The policy approach on Social Health Insurance was noted and the implementation strategy will be submitted in detail to Cabinet for approval after the Lekgotla.
Cabinet noted the progress that is being made in implementing the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme and the challenges in linking the beneficiaries to the formal social safety net including the provision of agricultural starter packs.
To ensure that beneficiary households do not relapse into vulnerability, Cabinet decided to extend the food parcel to the original Band 'A' beneficiaries covered during the 2002/03 allocation (244 000 households) for another three months to provide for reasonable timeframes for implementing the linkages of the model. This is the category of households that spends less than R200 per month on food.
Cabinet also noted the introduction of Vitamin A supplementation and food fortification to improve the nutrition of vulnerable sectors of the population. Regulations for the mandatory fortification of all maize meal and wheaten flour with vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron and zinc becomes effective in October this year. An auditing system, monitoring procedures and methodology for fortification are already in place for effective implementation.
With regard to Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programmes, Cabinet took decisions that seek to streamline our work in nodal areas. It was decided that Cabinet champions of these nodal points should report periodically on the progress in these areas. National and provincial champions should synchronise their visits to nodal areas. Provincial growth and development strategies are going to be aligned with integrated development plans at local government level. Financing protocol for nodal points is going to be developed to ensure proper budgeting.
I have lifted these few issues as priority areas that we requested Cabinet Lekgotla to discuss and give direction. I am sure my colleagues will be able to elaborate on these and other points that were addressed at the Lekgotla.
Contacts: Sibani Mngadi on 0827720161, mngads@health.gov.za, Mbulelo Musi on 082 904 3395, mbulelo.musi@socdeve.gov.za
Issued by Ministry of Health
31 July 2003
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