11 January 2006
Issued by Ministry of Health
The Minister of Health Dr Manto Tshabalala, called for sustainable financing of HIV and AIDS programmes to ensure better planning and improve effectiveness of these programmes.
The Minister was speaking at a two-day (January 09-10) meeting of the UNAIDS Global Steering Committee on increasing access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care held in Washington DC, USA.
The Minister was chairing a working group on adequate financing for scaled-up AIDS responses.
"A comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS requires sustainable financing that allows for progressive planning, effective implementation and continuous monitoring. This includes mobilization of domestic resources and alignment of additional resources from donor funding to national priorities of benefiting countries," said Dr Tshabalala-Msimang.
She said South Africa relies mainly on its national resources for financing of its response to AIDS and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework allows for better forecasting and implementation of the country's comprehensive response to AIDS.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang is a member of the Global Steering Committee which was established as a result of the resolution of the UN General Assembly requesting UNAIDS to assist in facilitating inclusive, country driven processes for scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
UNAIDS was also requested to present an assessment on these processes to the General Assembly meeting to review progress on the Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS to be held in New York in May 2006. South Africa would be convening national stakeholders to review the progress that the country has made in implementing the Declaration adopted by the General Assembly in 2001.
Sibani Mngadi (Minister's spokesperson @ 082 772 0161)