Date: 01/12/2005
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: World AIDS Day
Speech by Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on World AIDS Day national event, Durban
Programme Director
Honourable Deputy President
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
MEC for Health and other MECs present
Mayor and councillors
United Nations Resident Representative
Members of SANAC and Provincial AIDS Council Officials from national, provincial and local government
Representatives of other provinces
Our partners and guests
People from e-Thekwini and from all around
South Africa,
Members of the media
Thank you all for joining us today as we observe World AIDS Day here at eThekwini.
South Africa has rallied this year behind a theme that advocates unity, individual responsibility and care. As you know, our theme this year is A Nation Caring For Life.
Judging by number of people gathered here today, I can confidently say that indeed, we are a nation caring together.
We are joining the global community in marking the World AIDS Day with provincial, local and municipal events taking place across our land.
We have had more than 353 000 people making pledges to take action. Our health workers and caregivers are working tirelessly in and outside of our health facilities to spread prevention messages and provide care for those infected and affected.
Schools, workplaces, churches and various other sectors are spreading the message of hope that together, we can stop the spread of HIV infection and reduce the impact of AIDS in our society.
In the build-up to this very important day in the health calendar, there have been many reports which, in one way or another, seek to assess the impact of our response to HIV and AIDS.
I can say with much confidence to you today that we are on the right track in addressing this challenge.
We arguably have the largest programme in the world in the form of the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Our annual budget allocation for this programme has increased from R264 million in 2001 to R1,5 billion in 2005.
This fact was noted by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the last report to the UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS where he commended South Africa for tripling its resource allocation for HIV and AIDS programmes since the adoption of the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS in 2001.
This increase in resources allocation was also acknowledged in the World Health Organisation (WHO) progress report on the expansion of AIDS treatment released in June this year as being by far the largest budget allocation of any low or middle-income country.
We have also been invited by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to make a presentation on AIDS and will be sending a delegation to Abuja, Nigeria for the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa.
Our Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, which was the first to be printed in Braille, is based on the fact that there is still no cure for HIV and AIDS. Therefore, prevention remains the most critical intervention if we are to succeed in our response to HIV and AIDS.
Most of the surveys indicate a very high level of awareness about HIV and AIDS amongst our people ranging from 92 - 98%.
This is as result of the awareness campaigns which encourage particularly young people to abstain from sex.
KwaZulu-Natal has been exemplary in this regard with its abstinence walk which started in Port Shepstone and was subsequently held here in Durban.
We are also emphasising that those who decide to be involved in a relationship should be faithful to one partner.
These messages are critical in improving our moral fibre and building strong families that are free of violence and abuse against women and children.
As part of the prevention strategy, we also provide free, high quality condoms which are regularly tested by the South African Bureau of Standards.
Male condom distribution has increased from 270 million in 2003 to 346 million in 2004, and female condom distribution doubled from 1,3 to 2,6 million, during the same period.
Abstinence and condom use do not only protect you from HIV infection, but also from other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. Condoms also protect those who are already infected from re-infections.
Also critical is the need to know your HIV status. In order to boost its prevention strategy, the South African government has doubled the number of health facilities providing voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) from 1
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: World AIDS Day
Speech by Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on World AIDS Day national event, Durban
Programme Director
Honourable Deputy President
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
MEC for Health and other MECs present
Mayor and councillors
United Nations Resident Representative
Members of SANAC and Provincial AIDS Council Officials from national, provincial and local government
Representatives of other provinces
Our partners and guests
People from e-Thekwini and from all around
South Africa,
Members of the media
Thank you all for joining us today as we observe World AIDS Day here at eThekwini.
South Africa has rallied this year behind a theme that advocates unity, individual responsibility and care. As you know, our theme this year is A Nation Caring For Life.
Judging by number of people gathered here today, I can confidently say that indeed, we are a nation caring together.
We are joining the global community in marking the World AIDS Day with provincial, local and municipal events taking place across our land.
We have had more than 353 000 people making pledges to take action. Our health workers and caregivers are working tirelessly in and outside of our health facilities to spread prevention messages and provide care for those infected and affected.
Schools, workplaces, churches and various other sectors are spreading the message of hope that together, we can stop the spread of HIV infection and reduce the impact of AIDS in our society.
In the build-up to this very important day in the health calendar, there have been many reports which, in one way or another, seek to assess the impact of our response to HIV and AIDS.
I can say with much confidence to you today that we are on the right track in addressing this challenge.
We arguably have the largest programme in the world in the form of the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Our annual budget allocation for this programme has increased from R264 million in 2001 to R1,5 billion in 2005.
This fact was noted by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the last report to the UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS where he commended South Africa for tripling its resource allocation for HIV and AIDS programmes since the adoption of the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS in 2001.
This increase in resources allocation was also acknowledged in the World Health Organisation (WHO) progress report on the expansion of AIDS treatment released in June this year as being by far the largest budget allocation of any low or middle-income country.
We have also been invited by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to make a presentation on AIDS and will be sending a delegation to Abuja, Nigeria for the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa.
Our Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, which was the first to be printed in Braille, is based on the fact that there is still no cure for HIV and AIDS. Therefore, prevention remains the most critical intervention if we are to succeed in our response to HIV and AIDS.
Most of the surveys indicate a very high level of awareness about HIV and AIDS amongst our people ranging from 92 - 98%.
This is as result of the awareness campaigns which encourage particularly young people to abstain from sex.
KwaZulu-Natal has been exemplary in this regard with its abstinence walk which started in Port Shepstone and was subsequently held here in Durban.
We are also emphasising that those who decide to be involved in a relationship should be faithful to one partner.
These messages are critical in improving our moral fibre and building strong families that are free of violence and abuse against women and children.
As part of the prevention strategy, we also provide free, high quality condoms which are regularly tested by the South African Bureau of Standards.
Male condom distribution has increased from 270 million in 2003 to 346 million in 2004, and female condom distribution doubled from 1,3 to 2,6 million, during the same period.
Abstinence and condom use do not only protect you from HIV infection, but also from other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. Condoms also protect those who are already infected from re-infections.
Also critical is the need to know your HIV status. In order to boost its prevention strategy, the South African government has doubled the number of health facilities providing voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) from 1
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