Date: 14/02/2004
Source: Department of Health
Title: M Tshabalala-Msimang: STI/Condom Week event
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE NATIONAL STI/CONDOM WEEK EVENT, CACADU, EASTERN CAPE, 14 February 2004
It is a great pleasure and an honour to be here with the people of the Eastern Cape Province. I have listened with pride to the success stories that the people from the community of Cacadu and the province of Eastern Cape have shared with us today. I strongly believe that it is only through this kind of commitment and partnerships that we can protect our freedom, our human rights and our well being as a country.
From 9 February, South Africans have been participating in the National STI/Condom Awareness Week. This is an effort to highlight the importance of safe sexual practices with a particular emphasis on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and use of Condoms.
By observing this week, we seek to educate the public about the symptoms and risks associated with STIs. We are encouraging people to notify their partners of such infections and we are motivating everybody to obtain health advice and treatment. These services are free at your local clinic.
We meet here today to mark the end of this week on this important day, Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is an established tradition usually celebrated with an exchange of gifts between two persons and it signifies a declaration, proposal or affirmation of love.
In developing the theme for this STI/Condom week, we have drawn on the values of love and faithfulness that Valentine's Day symbolises. That is why the theme for this campaign is: IF YOU LOVE ME, RESPECT ME AND PROTECT ME.
If you suspect that you may have an STI, talk to your partner and you should both visit your nearest clinic. Some obvious symptoms include discomfort when urinating or itching, swelling or burning in the genital area.
However, there are some STIs that do not have apparent symptoms. So if you have engaged in unprotected sex - which you should not - or you or your partner has had other sexual partners, it is best to visit your local clinic and get checked.
By learning about the symptoms, prevention and treatment of STIs, you can protect yourself and your partner from becoming infected. We should all learn to respect the confidentiality between partners and between a health worker and a patient, so that they are confident to manage their STI status.
STIs are common in South Africa and a large proportion of the population has had at least one STI in their lifetime. However, we should also be proud of the progress we have made in addressing this challenge over the past few years. We have been able to expand our services in the public health sector to include not only the provision of information, condoms and STI treatment, but also voluntary testing and counselling services.
With focussed prevention and treatment campaigns around the country, the incidence of STIs, such as syphilis has fallen over the last few years. The STI partner notification rate increased from 39% in 2000 to 71% in 2002. This trend is being maintained in the first three months of 2003 with partner notification rate standing at 77%.
High quality, the South African Bureau for Standards (SABS) approved condoms are available from clinics and other outlets. Public sector male condom distribution has increased dramatically from 150 million in 1997 to 270 million in 2003. This represents an 80% improvement.
Distribution of male condoms through non-traditional outlets has been strengthened and is being monitored.
Condoms have been distributed to at least 3000 outlets, with an average of over 1 million condoms reaching spazas, tavern, hair salon etc per month.
The department has increased the number of designated sites that distribute female condoms from the initial 28 pilot sites in 2000 to over 200 sites in 2003. This represents a six-fold increase in sites in just four years. In 2003 alone, 1,4 million female condoms were distributed.
While we make this progress, our message to all our people should remains as follows:
* Most STIs are treatable. If you contract a STI, seek treatment immediately. Free professional treatment is available at most public health centres.
* Secondly, untreated STIs put you and your partner at great risk of contracting HIV and AIDS.
* Thirdly, using a condom correctly and consistently protects you and your loved one from STIs, including HIV and AIDS.
* And lastly, get to know what the symptoms of STIs are and notify your partner of any such symptoms.
While this is a national condom week event, I want to make sure that all us here understand the government message with regard to prevention of sexually transmitted including HIV as encompassed in our ABC campaign.
We are emphasising that people, especially young people, should delay their sexual debut and abstain from sex for as long as possible. If and when you decide to get involved in a sexual relationship, be faithful to your partner. This is very critical because it reinforces our efforts with regard to moral regeneration. We need to discourage promiscuity and multiple sexual relationships that often push women further info disadvantage situations.
As government we are cognisant of the fact that there are also people who are unable to abstain or be faithful to their partners. We therefore encourage consistent and correct use of a quality condom.
We need to work together to ensure that we prevent the spread of sexual transmitted infection.
I wish you a pleasant Valentine's Day.
Thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Health
14 February 2004
Source: SAPA
Source: Department of Health
Title: M Tshabalala-Msimang: STI/Condom Week event
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE NATIONAL STI/CONDOM WEEK EVENT, CACADU, EASTERN CAPE, 14 February 2004
It is a great pleasure and an honour to be here with the people of the Eastern Cape Province. I have listened with pride to the success stories that the people from the community of Cacadu and the province of Eastern Cape have shared with us today. I strongly believe that it is only through this kind of commitment and partnerships that we can protect our freedom, our human rights and our well being as a country.
From 9 February, South Africans have been participating in the National STI/Condom Awareness Week. This is an effort to highlight the importance of safe sexual practices with a particular emphasis on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and use of Condoms.
By observing this week, we seek to educate the public about the symptoms and risks associated with STIs. We are encouraging people to notify their partners of such infections and we are motivating everybody to obtain health advice and treatment. These services are free at your local clinic.
We meet here today to mark the end of this week on this important day, Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is an established tradition usually celebrated with an exchange of gifts between two persons and it signifies a declaration, proposal or affirmation of love.
In developing the theme for this STI/Condom week, we have drawn on the values of love and faithfulness that Valentine's Day symbolises. That is why the theme for this campaign is: IF YOU LOVE ME, RESPECT ME AND PROTECT ME.
If you suspect that you may have an STI, talk to your partner and you should both visit your nearest clinic. Some obvious symptoms include discomfort when urinating or itching, swelling or burning in the genital area.
However, there are some STIs that do not have apparent symptoms. So if you have engaged in unprotected sex - which you should not - or you or your partner has had other sexual partners, it is best to visit your local clinic and get checked.
By learning about the symptoms, prevention and treatment of STIs, you can protect yourself and your partner from becoming infected. We should all learn to respect the confidentiality between partners and between a health worker and a patient, so that they are confident to manage their STI status.
STIs are common in South Africa and a large proportion of the population has had at least one STI in their lifetime. However, we should also be proud of the progress we have made in addressing this challenge over the past few years. We have been able to expand our services in the public health sector to include not only the provision of information, condoms and STI treatment, but also voluntary testing and counselling services.
With focussed prevention and treatment campaigns around the country, the incidence of STIs, such as syphilis has fallen over the last few years. The STI partner notification rate increased from 39% in 2000 to 71% in 2002. This trend is being maintained in the first three months of 2003 with partner notification rate standing at 77%.
High quality, the South African Bureau for Standards (SABS) approved condoms are available from clinics and other outlets. Public sector male condom distribution has increased dramatically from 150 million in 1997 to 270 million in 2003. This represents an 80% improvement.
Distribution of male condoms through non-traditional outlets has been strengthened and is being monitored.
Condoms have been distributed to at least 3000 outlets, with an average of over 1 million condoms reaching spazas, tavern, hair salon etc per month.
The department has increased the number of designated sites that distribute female condoms from the initial 28 pilot sites in 2000 to over 200 sites in 2003. This represents a six-fold increase in sites in just four years. In 2003 alone, 1,4 million female condoms were distributed.
While we make this progress, our message to all our people should remains as follows:
* Most STIs are treatable. If you contract a STI, seek treatment immediately. Free professional treatment is available at most public health centres.
* Secondly, untreated STIs put you and your partner at great risk of contracting HIV and AIDS.
* Thirdly, using a condom correctly and consistently protects you and your loved one from STIs, including HIV and AIDS.
* And lastly, get to know what the symptoms of STIs are and notify your partner of any such symptoms.
While this is a national condom week event, I want to make sure that all us here understand the government message with regard to prevention of sexually transmitted including HIV as encompassed in our ABC campaign.
We are emphasising that people, especially young people, should delay their sexual debut and abstain from sex for as long as possible. If and when you decide to get involved in a sexual relationship, be faithful to your partner. This is very critical because it reinforces our efforts with regard to moral regeneration. We need to discourage promiscuity and multiple sexual relationships that often push women further info disadvantage situations.
As government we are cognisant of the fact that there are also people who are unable to abstain or be faithful to their partners. We therefore encourage consistent and correct use of a quality condom.
We need to work together to ensure that we prevent the spread of sexual transmitted infection.
I wish you a pleasant Valentine's Day.
Thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Health
14 February 2004
Source: SAPA
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
