SANAC message on World Aids Day 2006

1 December 2006

On the eve of World AIDS Day, on 1 December 2006, stakeholders in the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) have been working together to strengthen the national partnership against HIV and AIDS .

SANAC's message is one of partnership for united action against HIV and AIDS.

Strengthening the national partnership against HIV and AIDS

The partnership we need to deal with HIV and AIDS is at a critical point

HIV and AIDS are among us; it is real and presents huge challenges for the people of our country – we can only win against HIV and AIDS if we join hands to save our people.
We must strengthen the National Partnership against AIDS and send clear messages that will assist our people to fight and manage the disease better. We owe our people that unity of purpose and action!
There has been progress in implementing the comprehensive strategy and its operational plan, but there is much more to do to expand access to prevention, treatment and care and to turn the tide. The need for political leadership and partnership is as great as ever.
Success in implementing the national HIV and AIDS plan depends on leadership at every level of society as well as mobilisation and co-operation in all our sectors – government; labour and business; health workers and scientists; communities and schools; non-governmental, faith-based and community-based organisations; traditional leaders; and in our places of work and study and where we live.
Our HIV and AIDS treatment programme is comprehensive. Our HIV prevention plan is being reviewed and will be implemented with urgency and commitment. Together, we must make these plans work.

The comprehensive approach is clear and in line with international best practice

The management of HIV and AIDS requires both personal and public responsibility:

Factors that are making the impact of HIV and AIDS so severe in our region include, among others things, socio-economic factors; unequal gender and sexual relations that put women at risk; unprotected and unsafe sex; and alcohol and drug abuse.
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. They have added importance during the festive season when increased violence and risky behaviour make women more vulnerable.
Stigma and discrimination are barriers to HIV prevention, treatment and care efforts – we need to deal with this as an integral part of all our efforts. We must, as a nation, talk openly and honestly about the pandemic in support of those infected and affected.
The promotion of fundamental human-rights principles of dignity, equality, non-discrimination and freedom is a cornerstone of our approach to HIV and AIDS. All our efforts to prevent, treat and care for those with HIV are informed by these values, in line with our Constitution.
These programmes are supported by these prevention measures: prevention of mother-to-child transmission; post-exposure prophylaxis and positive prevention.
We need to rapidly scale up all these programmes.

Prevention

Every new infection limits the right to life. It affects the quality of life of individuals and families. Since there is no cure for AIDS we must act together to stop new HIV-infections which cause AIDS:
The link between gender violence and HIV-infection is clearly established. Our efforts to reduce new infections will not succeed without an adequate response to this social ill. Communities must work with the criminal justice system to protect and create justice for women - through campaigns such as the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
Most HIV-infections occur through sexual intercourse, and can be prevented by responsible behaviour. Teenagers should wait till they're older to have sex. Among people who are sexually active, consistent use of condoms and commitment to a single partner can reduce HIV- infection significantly.
People living with HIV also need to have safe sexual practices, to prevent infection of others and their own re-infection.
Everyone should know where they stand with HIV, by making testing to know their status a regular part of their lives.

Treatment, care and support

Though there is no known cure for AIDS, we can slow down the effects of HIV-infection. Treatment, care and support are part of the comprehensive programme – but these will only help if individuals and communities play their part.
Good nutrition, regular exercise, safer sexual practice, non-smoking and use of alcohol in moderation all help to keep people healthy and to protect the immune system.
A healthy and responsible lifestyle is necessary and complements the treatment which is part of the programme – treatment of opportunistic infections and anti-retroviral treatment for those who need it.
More and more people are living longer, being healthier and productive members of society. HIV and AIDS remain a drastic disease and demand our collective response to fight its spread and effect on our communities.
However, we all need to know that a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition are not alternatives to treatment and that antiretroviral treatment is not a cure. Managing HIV and AIDS requires a lifelong and comprehensive commitment from individuals and society.

The State provides some resources to tide people over the worst of infection – but care and support are also a community and social responsibility

The temporary Disability Grant helps tide people over the worst of the infection – but the aim of public health interventions is to restore people living with AIDS to health so they can take up the rights and responsibilities of any other citizen.
Our communities have a special role in identifying children at risk, protecting and supporting child-headed households and others who are vulnerable. Our national AIDS response must plan interventions in this area.
The business sector must continue to extend its workplace-based wellness programmes, including treatment for workers with AIDS, prevention programmes and plans to prevent new infections in communities they draw their workforce from.

Partnership of Hope

Now is the time to strengthen the national partnership – we must act to rapidly reverse the epidemic

Our efforts make a difference.
At this critical moment, we must reduce the tensions among those who want to work in truing the tide of the pandemic.
SANAC has a special responsibility. It embodies the national partnership and together we must rebuild and nurture it.
This requires us to adapt our strategy and responses to intensify our intervention methods and messages as well as tailor-make our messages for diverse and marginalised groups.

A time of opportunity – a time for united action:

We have an opportunity to reverse the course of the epidemic.
All of us in all our sectors share the responsibility to the nation to treat problems and challenges we can overcome together and not revert to sticks to beat one another.
Each one of us can be part of it.

Together we can overcome! Let us join hands in a partnership of hope!

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Last modified: 03 November 2009 15:20:11.