Date: 16/02/05
Source: The Presidency
Title: Zuma: African Centre for HIV and AIDS Management
Address by Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, at the launch of the African Centre for HIV and AIDS Management, University of Stellenbosch
16 February 2005
The Premier of the Western Cape, Ebrahim Rasool, MEC for Education, Cameron Dugmore, The Vice Chancellor and Rector, Professor Chris Brink, Director of the African Centre for HIV/AIDS Management Professor Jan du Toit, Dean of the Economic and Management Sciences, Professor Johann De Villiers, All Deans and other Members of the Academic Community, Distinguished Guests,
Good evening to you all and thank you for inviting us to be part of this wonderful occasion.
We are always pleased to interact with this institution, because of the successful association the Presidency has with the University of Stellenbosch, in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This launch provides an opportunity for us to further cement this partnership.
I must emphasise that we were greatly encouraged by the positive response of the Universities of Stellenbosch and Medunsa to our call in the year 2000 to develop a programme on HIV and AIDS management.
We are delighted with the progress made so far, given that since the inception of the Post-graduate Programme on HIV/AIDS Management here, more than 800 students from 55 countries have been trained.
We are also pleased that you have also developed a Masters Programme on HIV/AIDS Management for which 124 students are currently enrolled.
Your commitment was further displayed when, after a further request from the Presidency in 2002, Stellenbosch University reached out to the rest of Africa and developed programmes for the CEOs of companies.
It is quite impressive that over the last two years, a total of 200 representatives of labour organisations, employers and government from 31 countries have participated in workshops in the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Morocco and here at Stellenbosch.
The work you are doing shows that the commitment of key stakeholders to the fight against AIDS remains unwavering, which can only make us succeed in this mammoth task.
Government alone cannot be expected to break the back of and defeat this disease; it needs continuous support from other sectors.
Ladies and gentlemen, the implementation of Government’s Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment Plan is in progress although challenges remain. The implementation of the plan has seen significant achievements in the building and strengthening of our capacity to address HIV and AIDS at all levels.
Training is an important component of this programme. The Department of Health has ensured the training of a total of seven thousand six hundred and fifty eight (7658) health personnel nationally, in the management, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
We also continuously seek to expand the numbers of facilities where people can obtain treatment and care.
By January 2005, a total of 119 health facilities, spread across 51 health districts were providing the services. This is six more than what was planned for last year.
While playing our role, we also expect citizens to play their part as well. For example, we have to work together to continue to influence people to act on the knowledge they have about the disease. Awareness alone is not helpful if it does not lead to a change in behaviour.
There is also the question of fighting the stigma attached to the disease, providing care and support to the infected and affected including research.
This is where the Partnership against Aids becomes very critical. We need the input of each sector, which is why your intervention at this institution is so critical.
There are some very compelling reasons why institutions of higher learning have to play a meaningful and effective role in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Universities cannot turn a blind eye to societal matters that have a direct bearing on the future of tertiary institutions. Students, who are the lifeblood of universities, are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
We need the intervention of tertiary institutions in critical areas of education and training, research as well as management and leadership. It would assist the campaign against AIDS if we could ensure that every graduate leaves the institutions with HIV and AIDS literacy, both relating to prevention and management of the disease.
The university curricula should reflect the impact of HIV and AIDS, by integrating HIV and AIDS issues across all disciplines.
There is a need to include non-formal prevention strategies, and to develop and devise core and compulsory courses across all disciplines. Each of these options involves different considerations about time, resources and scale. Taking into consideration the uniqueness of each institution, choices in this regard will differ.
At the level of research, we expect universities to generate new knowledge as per their mandate. Research efforts should contribute new and critical thinking about HIV and AIDS to improve the understanding of the disease, and improve the scientific knowledge and technologies needed for the prevention, treatment, care and support.
There is also a need for research which cuts across all academic fields, including social, ethical, legal, economic and other fields relating to HIV and AIDS.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to take advantage of this occasion to remind you that this week, from 12 - 18 of February, is Sexually Transmitted Illnesses Week, also known as Condom Week. This year’s theme is “Your Sexual Health is Your Responsibility”.
This year’s campaign is specifically targeting your constituency, the 14 - 35 year old age group, as research indicates that they are at the greatest risk of contracting an STI, including HIV.
We need to place great emphasis on the holistic approach to sexual health, and within it, the power of choice.
As you are aware, our government’s policy on sexual health is predicated on three cornerstones: abstinence or the delay of the start of sexual activity; faithfulness, and consistent and correct condom use.
Since 1997, the distribution of public sector condoms has risen from 120 million to 350 million a year, as part of our attempts to assist people in making the right choices.
As you interact with the youth daily, we urge you to assist us in relaying the messages of prevention, to build a healthy generation.
Ladies and gentlemen, and dear partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS, let me congratulate you on the wonderful work you are continuing to do in contributing to this noble national responsibility.
We hope that the progress we have seen in the past four years at this institution will continue to make a difference in fighting HIV and AIDS.
I wish you all the best in all your endeavours.
I thank you.
Enquiries: Zanele Mngadi
Media Director
Office of the Deputy President: RSA
Tel: (012)300 5311/2
Cell: 082 781 9332
Issued by: The Presidency
16 February 2005
Source: The Presidency
Title: Zuma: African Centre for HIV and AIDS Management
Address by Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, at the launch of the African Centre for HIV and AIDS Management, University of Stellenbosch
16 February 2005
The Premier of the Western Cape, Ebrahim Rasool, MEC for Education, Cameron Dugmore, The Vice Chancellor and Rector, Professor Chris Brink, Director of the African Centre for HIV/AIDS Management Professor Jan du Toit, Dean of the Economic and Management Sciences, Professor Johann De Villiers, All Deans and other Members of the Academic Community, Distinguished Guests,
Good evening to you all and thank you for inviting us to be part of this wonderful occasion.
We are always pleased to interact with this institution, because of the successful association the Presidency has with the University of Stellenbosch, in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This launch provides an opportunity for us to further cement this partnership.
I must emphasise that we were greatly encouraged by the positive response of the Universities of Stellenbosch and Medunsa to our call in the year 2000 to develop a programme on HIV and AIDS management.
We are delighted with the progress made so far, given that since the inception of the Post-graduate Programme on HIV/AIDS Management here, more than 800 students from 55 countries have been trained.
We are also pleased that you have also developed a Masters Programme on HIV/AIDS Management for which 124 students are currently enrolled.
Your commitment was further displayed when, after a further request from the Presidency in 2002, Stellenbosch University reached out to the rest of Africa and developed programmes for the CEOs of companies.
It is quite impressive that over the last two years, a total of 200 representatives of labour organisations, employers and government from 31 countries have participated in workshops in the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Morocco and here at Stellenbosch.
The work you are doing shows that the commitment of key stakeholders to the fight against AIDS remains unwavering, which can only make us succeed in this mammoth task.
Government alone cannot be expected to break the back of and defeat this disease; it needs continuous support from other sectors.
Ladies and gentlemen, the implementation of Government’s Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment Plan is in progress although challenges remain. The implementation of the plan has seen significant achievements in the building and strengthening of our capacity to address HIV and AIDS at all levels.
Training is an important component of this programme. The Department of Health has ensured the training of a total of seven thousand six hundred and fifty eight (7658) health personnel nationally, in the management, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
We also continuously seek to expand the numbers of facilities where people can obtain treatment and care.
By January 2005, a total of 119 health facilities, spread across 51 health districts were providing the services. This is six more than what was planned for last year.
While playing our role, we also expect citizens to play their part as well. For example, we have to work together to continue to influence people to act on the knowledge they have about the disease. Awareness alone is not helpful if it does not lead to a change in behaviour.
There is also the question of fighting the stigma attached to the disease, providing care and support to the infected and affected including research.
This is where the Partnership against Aids becomes very critical. We need the input of each sector, which is why your intervention at this institution is so critical.
There are some very compelling reasons why institutions of higher learning have to play a meaningful and effective role in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Universities cannot turn a blind eye to societal matters that have a direct bearing on the future of tertiary institutions. Students, who are the lifeblood of universities, are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
We need the intervention of tertiary institutions in critical areas of education and training, research as well as management and leadership. It would assist the campaign against AIDS if we could ensure that every graduate leaves the institutions with HIV and AIDS literacy, both relating to prevention and management of the disease.
The university curricula should reflect the impact of HIV and AIDS, by integrating HIV and AIDS issues across all disciplines.
There is a need to include non-formal prevention strategies, and to develop and devise core and compulsory courses across all disciplines. Each of these options involves different considerations about time, resources and scale. Taking into consideration the uniqueness of each institution, choices in this regard will differ.
At the level of research, we expect universities to generate new knowledge as per their mandate. Research efforts should contribute new and critical thinking about HIV and AIDS to improve the understanding of the disease, and improve the scientific knowledge and technologies needed for the prevention, treatment, care and support.
There is also a need for research which cuts across all academic fields, including social, ethical, legal, economic and other fields relating to HIV and AIDS.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to take advantage of this occasion to remind you that this week, from 12 - 18 of February, is Sexually Transmitted Illnesses Week, also known as Condom Week. This year’s theme is “Your Sexual Health is Your Responsibility”.
This year’s campaign is specifically targeting your constituency, the 14 - 35 year old age group, as research indicates that they are at the greatest risk of contracting an STI, including HIV.
We need to place great emphasis on the holistic approach to sexual health, and within it, the power of choice.
As you are aware, our government’s policy on sexual health is predicated on three cornerstones: abstinence or the delay of the start of sexual activity; faithfulness, and consistent and correct condom use.
Since 1997, the distribution of public sector condoms has risen from 120 million to 350 million a year, as part of our attempts to assist people in making the right choices.
As you interact with the youth daily, we urge you to assist us in relaying the messages of prevention, to build a healthy generation.
Ladies and gentlemen, and dear partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS, let me congratulate you on the wonderful work you are continuing to do in contributing to this noble national responsibility.
We hope that the progress we have seen in the past four years at this institution will continue to make a difference in fighting HIV and AIDS.
I wish you all the best in all your endeavours.
I thank you.
Enquiries: Zanele Mngadi
Media Director
Office of the Deputy President: RSA
Tel: (012)300 5311/2
Cell: 082 781 9332
Issued by: The Presidency
16 February 2005
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
