18 November 1999
Masters of Ceremonies
Members of the Executive
Distinguish Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The theme of this conference - Join hands and form partnership against HIV/AIDS - is an appropriate expression of our coming together in the next two days.
As we approach the end of this century, there are enormous challenges we must overcome because they pose a threat to the gains made during the 20th century. One of the major threats of these achievements is that of HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Our country has laid a solid foundation to advance the course of reconstruction and development. The medium long-term fundamentals relating to the country's economic situation favours a strong economic resurgence in future. This is good news for all those who share our view and perspective for a better life for all.
HIV/AIDS is but one of the many challenges that we face and can only conquered if there is collaboration and co-operation. As government, we have committed ourselves to accelerating the delivery of services to all our people. Most importantly the health service so as to be able to deal with issues such as AIDS.
This goes a long way to show how serious the Northern Cape Government is around the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Master of Ceremonies,
Today is time for us to stop contemplating on what to do about the HIV/AIDS epidemic because it is in our midst. As we are gathered here we need to come out with concrete and implementable strategies which will see us complementing those that already exist.
Our hopes of building a healthy and united nation will not be achieved if we do not move faster as a united force to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the Northern Cape. We cannot hope to build a working nation when our people are infected on a daily basis with the virus.
The escalation of the war against HIV/AIDS is high on our agenda. This war must be fought in a multi-faceted and multi-sectoral manner to ensure that our combined energies are focused on containing and ultimately eradicating this killer disease.
Government has identified the need to set up programmes around the disease and a special technical team has been established, which will report directly to the Premier.
The responsibility of driving the AIDS campaign has been left to the domain of the Premier.
Cabinet has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on HIV/AIDS in order to monitor the trends and programmes against HIV/AIDS. The other aim of the committee is to:
Tied with these goals the campaign is also aimed at invoking the culture of responsibility among all South Africans in ensuring that the right messages are disseminated to the public at large.
There is no time to reinvent the wheel for time is against us - the disease is spreading at a very fast in our country and the province.
Let us devote our precious time and resources in educating our people about this deadly disease and the role, which our people can play in combating HIV/AIDS.
Chairperson, allow me to indulge the gathering with some of the alarming statistics which will show how serious is the battle against HIV/AIDS in our province.
Some of you may already know these figures but I think it is appropriate for me to reiterate these statistics.
It is no secret that South Africa has the fastest growing number of infections throughout the world with about 1 thousand five hundred people infected everyday.
Statistics show that in the Northern Cape Province the rate of infection at present stands at 9.98 percent.
This translates into one out of 10 people in the Northern Cape is infected. Where does that leave us in the province with a total of about 8 hundred thousand people?
This means that the sexually active age group is the one that is mostly affected by the disease. That is the ages between 20 - 29 years. Thus young people are the most infected in an increasing number. This disease is spread mostly through sex and young people are the ones who are sexually active thus the need to start talking about sex openly and publicly.
Not since the Black Death that wiped out Europe and Asia, has the disease so dramatically affected the lives of so many of our people in the province. Economic development, which stresses the development of our province, is under serious threat. Studies show that the disease affects those that are economically active group in the province.
We cannot talk about economic growth with the people who are required to generate and sustain growth being infected at this rate.
The pandemic poses a serious threat to the prospects of economic growth in our province and country.
Although the epidemic affects mainly young people, the picture is still the same for the adult population. This has added pressure on the households in the province that is also battling to control tuberculosis that has been around for sometime. Now all the efforts to curb TB are being reversed by HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS is among us; it is real and is spreading very fast. For too long we have closed our eyes hoping that the truth about the disease will remain unreal. But the opposite is true.
Health services are already seeing a large number of both adults and children with HIV/AIDS.
" In our quest to escape the reality about the disease and the gravity of the situation, we have developed euphemisms that we use when referring to people who suffer from or have died from AIDS.
We will not succeed in fighting this disease for as long as we refuse to accept reality. We will continue to perish in even larger numbers".
We have allowed the virus to spread in a hidden manner by maintaining that HIV/AIDS is someone else's problem and not ours. But the opposite is true, once again - the problem is indeed ours for the DANGER IS REAL.
" Because it is carried and transmitted by human beings, it is with us in our workplaces, in our classrooms and our lecture halls. It is there in our church gatherings and other religious functions".
" HIV/AIDS walk with us. It travels with us wherever we go. It is there when we play sport. It is there when we sing and dance".
We need to support the people living with HIV/AIDS. We must make the epidemic visible and real. For it is indeed real and is amongst all of us. Thus it is our problem. It is my concern and your concern too.
There is a great need to change our way of life.
It must be stated categorically clear that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS.
So prevention lies with our behavioural norms. Reduction of the number of partners is a way of preventing the spread of the disease. Abstaining from sex for as long as possible is another way of preventing the spread of the disease. But if you engage in sex a condom must be used at all times.
Changing our behaviour is not easy but many prevention programmes have worked, just like changing ones behaviour. Failure to do so our dreams will be shattered.
We have to accept that the witch is in the house instead of being outside. It is not, Chairperson with our neighbours but in our own backyards and homes.
HIV/AIDS is an enormous threat to the development and social transformation of our province. The epidemic can be reduced effectively only if we act decisively together in partnership.
Our response will be very limited as long as the perception is that this is a health problem.
Therefore, the power to defeat the disease lies in our partnership.
We must join hands in this partnership united in our resolve to save our nation. We must pledge to spread the message. We must also care and commit our resources to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
As HIV/AIDS continues to destroy many of our lives, we should graduate from awareness campaigns to the implementation of strategies as a priority.
This conference should be evidence that implementation should now be accorded the priority status in our deliberations.
I have noted with sadness the high number of neglected babies who are victims of HIV/AIDS. Parents who have died of the disease leave behind many and others were just left at the hospitals and their parents and relatives cannot be traced.
If we as a society cannot care for our children, then it means that we are slowly blemishing the moral fibre of our society. I have witnessed the painful experience when I hosted my birthday for these children. I was greatly touched by their situation. Thus I would like to announce that I have decided to form a Trust Fund for AIDS Orphans.
One company ahs already pledged to contribute 1 million towards the Trust and I therefore appeal to every individuals and companies to contribute to this just course.
We all have a responsibility and role to play - churches must preach the word about the dire consequences of HIVAIDS to society and our responsibility in this respect.
Non-governmental organisations must utilise their expertise about working in poverty-stricken areas and in depressed economies to assist in spreading the word about the disease.
Government will continue to prioritise the issue of the epidemic. Schools, colleges, universities and other places where young people gather, must be utilised to spread the word about HIV/AIDS.
Political organisations must also adopt a much more vigorous and active role in this endeavour for the disease knows no ideology and presents the greatest threat humanity.
Indeed, we all have a role to play, including the privates sector, which can use its resources and expertise to optimise, the efforts of others in this regard.
I thank you