Issued by: Ministry for Welfare and Population Development
1 DECEMBER 1997
STATEMENT BY WELFARE AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT MINISTER GERALDINE FRASER-MOLEKETI ON WORLD AIDS DAY
Today I join millions of people throughout the world in commemorating World Aids Day - a day in which we do not merely pay tribute to thousands of victims throughout the world - among them women and children - who have died of HIV/AIDS. It is a day people of South Africa - particularly youths - should be made more aware of the dangers of the epidemic that daily cripples the nation.
According to the national survey of women attending public health service antenatal clinics, 10,44 percent were infected with HIV during 1995, with the number increasing to 14,17 percent in 1996.
The theme of this year is specifically addressing CHILDREN LIVING IN A WORLD WITH AIDS. It is projected that 15 percent of the children population will be affected with AIDS. Many children will loose both parents due to the virus. The implications are that there will be thousands of orphans.
The options of surrogate care for orphaned and abandoned children in South Africa have a limited capacity to cater for the needs of the entire population and will soon be swamped by a crisis associated with the increasing of HIV/AIDS epidemic. Support and training of care-givers and volunteers is essential. They White Paper for Social Welfare conveys a strong message regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS on the well-being of the South African population. The AIDS crisis poses a number of special challenges in the field of social welfare, and welfare interventions form an essential and integral component of AIDS management.
The impact of HIV/AIDS are taken into account when social welfare programmes are being developed. The empowerment of social workers to deal with the epidemic in a rapid and effective manner were identified as a crucial element in the management of the programme.
In the view of the need for increased family support for people affected by HIV/AIDS a support/caring, community-based model should be urgently developed. Support programmes should address the needs of, especially, people in rural areas living with HIV/AIDS.
ISSUED: Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, MP Minister for Welfare and Population Development