Issued by GCIS on behalf of The Presidency
30 November 2006
The World Aids Day commemorative event will take place in KaNyamazane, Nelspruit in Mpumalanga on the 1st December. This event comes at time when both government and civil society are working together to review and strengthen the South African National Aids council (SANAC), whose work will be informed by the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS and STI for 2007 - 2011(NSP).
Our comprehensive HIV prevention plan is being reviewed and will be implemented collectively with urgency and commitment. What makes the impact of HIV and AIDS so severe in our region, amongst other the socio-economic factors, includes unequal gender and sexual relations that put women at risk; unprotected and unsafe sex, and drug abuse in our society.
Comprehensive behaviour change programmes, driven by accurate public information about HIV and support services, that recognise and respond to these drivers of HIV infection must be the cornerstone of our prevention efforts. These challenges have added importance during the festive season when increased violence and risky behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse, increases vulnerability to HIV.
Stigma and discrimination are barriers to HIV prevention, treatment and care. We must, as a nation, begin to talk openly and honestly about the pandemic in support of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. Parents, schools, churches and communities have a responsibility to help us educate our people, especially the youth.
We are pleased to report that the discussions between Government and our partners in SANAC have been very positive and constructive. We have agreed about the need to strengthen SANAC with a view to making it more effective. We are even more excited about the fact that all SANAC members will be observing World AIDS Day together as a sign that we have achieved the goal of working together in the fight against HIV/AIDS. There is a greater level of commitment to work together to finalise the 5 year Strategic Plan by March 2007.
The draft Strategic Plan has been submitted to all stakeholders for their consideration and valuable contribution. The delay in finalising the plan was necessitated by the need to ensure that the final plan enjoys the support of all stakeholders before final approval. Government would like to express it's full confidence in the partnership with civil society and their commitment to work tirelessly, with us to ensure that the plan is finalised by March 2007.
There has been significant progress in the implementation of the comprehensive strategy on HIV/AIDS.
However, the need to scale up all aspects of the programme cannot be underestimated. We still need to strengthen our messages on prevention, delayed sexual debut and reduction of multiple and concurrent sexual partners. Comprehensive behaviour change programmes that recognise and respond to the various drivers of HIV infection are the cornerstone of prevention going forward.
The Inter- Ministerial Committee (IMC) on HIV and AIDS, chaired by Deputy President Ms Phumzile Mlambo - Ngcuka, has been reinvigorated as recommended by Cabinet to strengthen coordination of departments contributing to the comprehensive programme whose implementation is led by the Department of Health. Constituted by the ministerial members of SANAC, it has assisted in the SANAC processes and met on Monday this week to review preparations for World AIDS Day.
Much progress can be reported on the restructuring of SANAC and renewal of the National Strategic Plan. In its workshop of 31 October, SANAC agreed on the outline of the high level structure for the new SANAC, and on sectors to be constituted. Similarly on the National Strategic Plan 2007 - 2011, partners agreed on the framework, resolving that details of the content of the plan should be discussed in the first quarter of 2007.
On World Aids Day SANAC will communicate to the country and its citizens, the collaborative and cooperative spirit that has prevailed in the past months. The partners will announce the agreed SANAC structure and the broad framework of the NSP, together with a call to strengthen the National Partnership on Aids. This day provides an opportunity for SANAC to appeal to everyone in the country to work together to reduce prevalence by taking responsibility and by joining in partnership in turning the tide of the pandemic. Strong partnership and a common message will reassure our communities that our comprehensive programme on treatment, care, support, human rights, and nutrition will succeed.
Our sustained positive energy is critical to an effective SANAC with functional programmes supported by all in government and civil society.