MINISTER WELCOMES CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS ON COORDINATED ACTION FOR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS AND URGES CLOSE COLLABORATION

Issued by: Ministry of Social Development

6 June 2002

The Minister of Social development Dr. Zola Skweyiya, has welcome the resolutions taken at the four - day Conference on Coordinated Action for Children affected by HIV /AIDS held from the 2nd - 5th June 2002 in Johannesburg. He called for closer collaboration amongst the various stakeholders in working towards improvement of the conditions of vulnerable children.

"This conference was indeed very significant and historic. It will go a long way in ensuring the improvement of services for children affected by HIV/AIDS as well as strengthen collaboration amongst the various sectors of society" said the Minister.

The Minister called on the participants to among others engage in the following:

• Analyse the situation in six provinces (Mpumalanga, Frees State, North West, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng, (noting that much emphasis has already been placed on the other three poorest provinces)
• Evaluate government service delivery in respect of HIV/AIDS with particular focus on Home and Community Based Care and other programmes for children.
• Counseling training at community level
• Compilation of schools databases of vulnerable children to facilitate easier intervention
• Monitor effectiveness and impact of food security and nutrition programmes
• Research and Recommend effective strategies to manage child - headed households
• Evaluate stigma reduction strategies
• Recommend sustainable programmes and action plans for identification, replications, implementation and monitoring.
• Enhance a Rights - based approach to the issue of children affected by HIV AIDS and other vulnerable children

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