9 October 2002
WORLD AIDS DAY 2002 PLANS UNVEILED
Johannesburg, 9 October 2002 - The Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, today commemorated the fourth anniversary of the Partnership Against AIDS, and unveiled the new wing of the Ethembeni Children’s Home. This is where the Partnership was launched four years ago on 9 October 1998 by the President, Thabo Mbeki.
The Deputy President was joined at today’s function by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the Commissioner of Salvation Army William Mabena, and the senior representatives of SABC and Pick ‘n Pay - two key partners in this year’s World AIDS Day campaign.
As a partner, the SABC is donating much of the airtime that will be used to alert South Africans and encourage them to support and actively participate in the World AIDS Day 2002 campaign.
In the spirit of Letsema, and in the spirit of Ubuntu, this year, South Africa will focus on the notion of caring enough to help others - in line with the international theme for 2002, which is ‘Live and Let Live’. The main idea behind this year’s World AIDS Day builds on last year’s theme, "I care enough to act" and aims to ensure that the care and support elements of the society are highlighted and broadened to include as wide a stakeholder contribution as possible.
The Government’s partnership with other sectors has been further boosted for World AIDS Day with Pick ‘n Pay being on board to help provide a channel through which everyone can help and give something to people and communities most affected by HIV and AIDS.
Starting on 1 November 2002, every South African will be able to show that they care enough to help by going to their nearest Pick ‘n Pay store and placing tinned food, toys, school stationery or clothes in the specially marked collection bins.
Pick ‘n Pay will sort through the donations received between 1 and 24 November, and utilise their national distribution channels to deliver the donations to ten organisations in each province, meaning that ninety needy support and care organisations throughout South Africa will receive invaluable assistance from South Africans.
In addition to the ten organisations per province, the government has also agreed with Red Cross that they would become the eleventh channel in each province. Red Cross will distribute the goods collected to a further network of smaller and more difficult to reach organisations, whether they are non governmental organisations, community based organisations or even small support groups.
This intense period of activity will culminate at a national event, this year being held in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape. The event will gather about 15 000 South Africans from all over the country.
Speaking at today’s event, Thami Skenjana from the Government AIDS Action Plan (GAAP) said that some of the people attending World AIDS Day from other provinces will be transported to Kimberly by trains especially provided for this purpose by Spoornet - an active participant in the Partnership Against AIDS. Skenjana also thanked other partners, including Pfizer Laboratories, whose Diflucan Partnership Programme with the government has been providing essential anti-fungal treatment for almost two years to people living with HIV and AIDS, who experience two opportunistic infections, cryptococcal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis.
Issued on behalf of: Government AIDS Action Plan (GAAP), Department of Health