Date: 18/05/2004
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: World Health Assembly
ADDRESS BY THE HEALTH MINISTER OF SOUTH AFRICA, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, TO THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, Geneva, 18 May 2004
Firstly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the member-states gathered here for electing me as one of the Vice-Presidents of this World Health Assembly. It is really a great honour for me and my country, South Africa.
I also thank you for the opportunity to address this Assembly and to share some of our thoughts as a country as we mark the 10th anniversary of democracy and freedom in South Africa.
I have used the twin concepts of democracy and freedom because we set out to build a particular kind of society 10 years ago. We wanted to create a nation that was the complete opposite of the heartless and cruel system of apartheid.
We therefore went beyond the basic democratic requirement of universal franchise and saw to it that the freedoms that are essential to human rights were placed at the centre of our new system of government through our new Constitution.
The Bill of Rights not only guarantees all the basic freedoms that were so brutally denied our people in the past freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of speech. Among its other provisions is the recognition that every human being has a right to the basic necessities of life including the right to access quality healthcare. Our Constitution charges us, as Government, with ensuring access to these necessities.
In the 10 years since the African National Congress assumed the reins of Government we have made a mighty effort to meet our obligations in terms of socio-economic rights.
The poor of our country are now entitled to basic services that are critical to improving health including:
* Land and basic shelter
* A free quota of piped water and electricity
* Free primary health care and free health care at all levels for pregnant women, children under six years and people with disabilities
* Non-contributory social grants for old people, children and people with disabilities.
The human rights culture has had a profound impact on health service provision. We have focused our programmes on vulnerable groups like children, women and people with disabilities. Our capital spending has targeted rural communities, providing hundreds of new clinics and appropriate hospital facilities. We have involved communities in service provision for example through national immunisation weeks, the rapid expansion of home-based care and the training of tens of thousands of community health workers.
We have made major strides in making quality medicine more accessible and affordable to all.
Our interventions have had major impact in addressing major communicable disease including cholera, measles and malaria. We are implementing a Comprehensive strategy on HIV and AIDS that cover all the elements to deal effectively with this major challenge. Also critical is the strengthening of our TB interventions to increase our cure rates.
It is these achievements that prompted almost 70% of our population to give the African National Congress yet another resounding mandate to improve their lives.
Mr President, the successful launch of the African Union and establishment of African parliament demonstrates our commitment to promote the universal principles of equality, freedom and democracy. The New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) encourages our partnership as Africans with the rest of the world as equal partners.
The successful bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa is one major outcome of this equal partnership. Our individual attempts to host this event on previous occasions failed. However, once we united and spoke with one voice, this cup came to our continent.
We are determined as Africans to make this our century. Our right to participate as equals at the world arena can no longer be ignored.
Transformation of world institutions to include all people and eliminate marginalisation of poor societies must top the agenda. Africa has the wealth of potential not only to realise it own development goals but also to create the united world we all envisage.
Thank you
Issued by: Ministry of Health
18 May 2004
Source: Department of Health: (http://www.doh.gov.za)
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: World Health Assembly
ADDRESS BY THE HEALTH MINISTER OF SOUTH AFRICA, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, TO THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, Geneva, 18 May 2004
Firstly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the member-states gathered here for electing me as one of the Vice-Presidents of this World Health Assembly. It is really a great honour for me and my country, South Africa.
I also thank you for the opportunity to address this Assembly and to share some of our thoughts as a country as we mark the 10th anniversary of democracy and freedom in South Africa.
I have used the twin concepts of democracy and freedom because we set out to build a particular kind of society 10 years ago. We wanted to create a nation that was the complete opposite of the heartless and cruel system of apartheid.
We therefore went beyond the basic democratic requirement of universal franchise and saw to it that the freedoms that are essential to human rights were placed at the centre of our new system of government through our new Constitution.
The Bill of Rights not only guarantees all the basic freedoms that were so brutally denied our people in the past freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of speech. Among its other provisions is the recognition that every human being has a right to the basic necessities of life including the right to access quality healthcare. Our Constitution charges us, as Government, with ensuring access to these necessities.
In the 10 years since the African National Congress assumed the reins of Government we have made a mighty effort to meet our obligations in terms of socio-economic rights.
The poor of our country are now entitled to basic services that are critical to improving health including:
* Land and basic shelter
* A free quota of piped water and electricity
* Free primary health care and free health care at all levels for pregnant women, children under six years and people with disabilities
* Non-contributory social grants for old people, children and people with disabilities.
The human rights culture has had a profound impact on health service provision. We have focused our programmes on vulnerable groups like children, women and people with disabilities. Our capital spending has targeted rural communities, providing hundreds of new clinics and appropriate hospital facilities. We have involved communities in service provision for example through national immunisation weeks, the rapid expansion of home-based care and the training of tens of thousands of community health workers.
We have made major strides in making quality medicine more accessible and affordable to all.
Our interventions have had major impact in addressing major communicable disease including cholera, measles and malaria. We are implementing a Comprehensive strategy on HIV and AIDS that cover all the elements to deal effectively with this major challenge. Also critical is the strengthening of our TB interventions to increase our cure rates.
It is these achievements that prompted almost 70% of our population to give the African National Congress yet another resounding mandate to improve their lives.
Mr President, the successful launch of the African Union and establishment of African parliament demonstrates our commitment to promote the universal principles of equality, freedom and democracy. The New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) encourages our partnership as Africans with the rest of the world as equal partners.
The successful bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa is one major outcome of this equal partnership. Our individual attempts to host this event on previous occasions failed. However, once we united and spoke with one voice, this cup came to our continent.
We are determined as Africans to make this our century. Our right to participate as equals at the world arena can no longer be ignored.
Transformation of world institutions to include all people and eliminate marginalisation of poor societies must top the agenda. Africa has the wealth of potential not only to realise it own development goals but also to create the united world we all envisage.
Thank you
Issued by: Ministry of Health
18 May 2004
Source: Department of Health: (http://www.doh.gov.za)
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