Thursday, 1 March 2001
HIV/AIDS WORKSHOP OPENING ADDRESS
Members of the media,
The fight against HIV/AIDS in our country is part of our broad strategy to nurture a new patriotism among our people.
The addresses by President Thabo Mbeki and Premier Mbhazima Shilowa to the National Assembly and our Provincial Legislature respectively, put emphasis on investing in South Africa's people. There has been a commitment to ensure urban renewal and rural development. As part of our broad effort to maximize the potential of South Africa's people a human development strategy (HRD) has been put forth.
This HRD strategy will support employment growth by targeting economic sectors with growth and employment potential and increase the number of science-industry partnerships.
We have put in place an integrated social plan that will enhance the social and psychological development of learners and educators.
There is still more work that government is doing to prepare the children of this country to be able to take their rightful place in society.
Government is committed to develop a wholesome youth that will contribute towards building a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society. However, all these efforts and commitments are under threat because of the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
The Gauteng Impact Assessment predicts that by 2003, we can expect 65 000 deaths from HIV/AIDS each year. Every sector will be affected differently, but substantial impact will be on health care services.
The impact on South Africa will be immense. All the freedoms we fought so hard for, and won will be in vain. There is an immediate need to intervene and put preventative Programmes that will save our society from the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
We have to start by ensuring that we make a major impact in changing the sexual behaviour of the youth. This year's emphasis on the Grade 5,6 and 7 is intended to achieve just this. Through peer education we will also achieve more in containing this epidemic.
The role of educators is at the centre of ensuring that our learners will be able to change their sexual behaviour and improve their life skills. Government will continue to invest in the educators by ongoing training to equip them with skills to make interventions early when crises emerge.
Recently within the media there has been much interest on the impact this will have on the education system. Of course, this we can only know if many learners and educators disclose their status. Unfortunately despite all the efforts we have put, so far the environment remain unfavourable for disclosures to come out easily.
We obviously want to reach a stage where voluntary counselling and testing will be the norm. Some have also begun to argue that authorities should be notified on the HIV/AIDS status of patients, as it is done with other diseases.
The discussions and understanding of HIV/AIDS continue to be among important matters discussed in all societies. The quest for answers on this disease continues and the best defence is our ability to mobilise our people to use preventative methods.
South Africa has succeeded in each crisis it went through in the past and there is no reason why we should not win the war against HIV/AIDS.
With these few words I welcome you to share our efforts and commitments as a contribution to the partnership against AIDS. We can make major strides if we succeed at the chalk-face.
Thanking you.
Ignatius Jacobs MEC for Education 1 March 2001
More information contact Lebelo Maloka 011 355 1509 082 902 9880 lebelom@gpg.gov.za Gauteng Department of Education