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Let's join hands to build a partnership of hope
Newspaper advertisement, 19 April 2002
Intensifying
our comprehensive programme against HIV/AIDS in partnership with
all sectors
Government
is intensifying the campaign to prevent HIV infections and deal
with its consequences. In that regard our starting point is the
premise that HIV causes AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a challenge for all of
us. Together we can overcome the disease by working to implement
a comprehensive programme in a Partnership Against Aids.
Our policy,
set out in a five-year strategic plan adopted in 2000, is in line
with international trends and is in fact among the best in the
world. Continuing in that framework, we are intensifying the programme,
addressing implementation problems and improving our approach
in line with changing circumstances.
The total
budget for HIV/AIDS was R350m in 2001/02; it has been increased
to R1-billion in this financial year, and will go up to R1.8-billion
in 2004/05.
What
does this partnership mean in practice?
The
Partnership Against Aids launched in 1998 by then Deputy President
Thabo Mbeki brought government departments and key sectors of society
together in a broad-based and multi-sectoral fight against the disease.
We will, as government, strengthen our own contribution to the partnership
by establishing a Presidential Task Team on AIDS consisting of Ministers
led by the Deputy President. Further measures will be introduced
to strengthen government structures dealing with this matter
Why
does the programme put so much emphasis on prevention?
Since there
is no known cure for AIDS, preventing infection by HIV is critical.
Each of us must exercise our individual and collective responsibility
to take care of our own lives. Promoting public awareness, life
skills and the HIV/AIDS education programme are the core of our
efforts to prevent transmission of HIV. Although we have achieved
awareness amongst over 90% of South Africans, we are intensifying
the work so that more people translate awareness into change of
lifestyles. A new phase of the campaign working with partners
such as loveLife will start in June 2002.
Effective
management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), which make
people more vulnerable to the HIV is critical in reducing the
risk of HIV transmission. Already we have trained healthcare workers
in 80% of our public sector clinics and this is being extended.
What
progress are we making in preventing mother-to-child transmission?
The
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) is being
run from 18 research sites accessed through over 230 hospitals and
clinics. At the sites women are offered voluntary counselling and
HIV tests. Mothers who turn out to be HIV-positive are offered Nevirapine
for themselves and their babies. This research will continue. At
the same time we are implementing the temporary ruling of the Constitutional
Court. In the meantime, the Department of Health is working on a
Universal Roll-out Plan to be completed as soon as possible, in
preparation for the post-December 2002 period.
What
does government's programme offer in the way of treatment?
With regard
to cases of sexual assault, government will endeavour to provide
a comprehensive package of care for survivors, including counselling,
testing for HIV, pregnancy and STIs. Survivors will be counselled,
including on the risks of using anti-retrovirals as preventative
drugs, so they could make an informed choice. If they so choose
(as is the case with needle-stick injuries), they will be provided
with such drugs in public health institutions. A standardised
national protocol in this regard will be finalised as soon as
possible.
Government
is committed to treatment and management of opportunistic infections.
No South African should be sent away and not treated, irrespective
of their HIV status. Given the critical importance of drugs dealing
with infections such as meningitis, oral thrush, TB and pneumonia,
we urge the public, especially People Living with AIDS, to assist
government in monitoring the availability of such drugs.
On anti-retroviral
treatments in general, government notes that they can help improve
the conditions of People Living with Aids, if administered at
certain stages in the progression of the condition, in accordance
with international standards. However, because these drugs are
too costly for universal access and, because they can cause harm
if incorrectly used and if the health systems are inadequate,
government will continue to work for the lowering of the cost
of these drugs, and intensify the campaign to ensure that patients
observe treatment advice given to them by doctors.
Further, alongside
poverty alleviation and nutritional interventions, government
will encourage investigation into alternative treatments, particularly
into supplements and medication for boosting the immune system.
What
about care and support?
Government
is deeply concerned about the conditions of families affected by
the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We are therefore intensifying efforts to
assist them. This includes foster care grants, assistance to child-headed
households, food parcels and so on. We are also improving the programme
of home-based care and community-based care. The budget for this
will increase over three years, rising from R25,5m last year to
R138m in 2004/5.
Discrimination
against people living with AIDS. What can be done?
Negative
attitudes can result in people being denied treatment, care and
support they need. They also discourage people from being tested
to find out their status or from declaring the cause of illness
or death in their family. Government is intensifying its campaign
against discrimination and will continue investigating further legal
avenues for the affected and infected.
There
is hope!
Government
calls on all South Africans to join hands in a campaign of hope:
to mobilise our strength as a nation and as individuals to ensure
that, we are able to manage, reduce and in the long-run defeat
this epidemic.
We have it
in our power to achieve this objective. What is critical is that
we should work together as a united force to achieve the best
interests of our society.
Issued by GCIS,
17 April 2002
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Last modified: 23 September 2004 12:33:51.
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