Issued by: Ministry: Social Development
30 August 2001
MINISTER COMMENDS THE TASK TEAM WORK DONE TO PREVENT THE DEATH OF CHILDREN FROM MALNUTRITION IN THE EASTERN CAPE.
The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya has commended the work done thus far by the Task Team deployed to assist in the prevention of deaths of children from malnutrition in the Mount Frere District, Eastern Cape.
"The progress that the Task Team has made over the last two weeks is very important. It confirms that it is only when the government co-ordinates and integrates its work effectively as well as ensure the involvement of the communities and other stakeholders, that progress can be made rapidly in the delivery of services." Said the Minister.
The report from the Task Team indicates that:
"This momentum must be kept and accelerated. We owe it first and foremost, to our children to make our democracy have real meaning.
The children are our future and we need protect them and give them love and care, by ensuring the realisation of their constitutional rights to have food, shelter, clothing, education, health and a better environment," further said the Minister.
Two weeks ago, Minister Skweyiya announced the allocation of R2 million and also established a 16 - member Task Team, to work on assisting the children and families that were reported on special assignment to dying of malnutrition in the Mount Frere areas of the Eastern Cape.
The Task team is composed of the officials from the national office of Social Development, a team of ten people from the Northern Province Department of Social Welfare Services and Health, the provincial officials form the Department of Welfare and Home Affairs. The main objectives of the Task Team is to:
1. assist the communities access the poverty alleviation funds and food parcels;
2. assist families to access the child Support grant through the quicker processing of I.Ds and the issuing of birth certificates.
Issued by : Ministry of Social Development
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