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.