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MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA, WILL LAUNCH A HISTORIC TRAINING COURSE ON HIV/AIDS IN MAFIKENG TO MARK WORLD POPULATION DAY, 11 JULY
The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, will tomorrow launch the first ever capacity building training course for government planners on HIV/AIDS at the Convention Centre, Mafikeng, at 10:00, where he is expected to make a call on the country to give more attention to children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS as a way of marking World Population Day.
"The Celebration of World Population Day and the launch of this historic course should give impetus to the country as a whole, especially researchers and government practitioners, to give more attention to millions of children who are affected or infected by HIV/AIDS especially the orphans and child headed families in the rural areas," said the Minister.
The theme for World Population Day this year is: "Population, Environment and Sustainable Development".
Currently an estimated 300 000 children are reported to have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the country. An estimated 1 million will be orphaned over the next ten years.
"This is a calamity which all of us must fight and conquer. The business community, labour, government, faith-based organisations, communities, researchers and professionals must all unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said the Minister.
The training programme is aimed at building capacity at national, provincial and local government level in order to deal more effectively with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is a joint programme between the departments of Social Development, Public Service and Administration, Provincial and Local Government and the United Nation Population Fund (UNPF) and a number of universities.
Government officials researchers and academics non-governmental organisations, community based organisations (CBOs) and the media are expected to participate in this historic launch.
Enquiries: Mr Mbulelo Musi at 0836025795
Issued by: Ministry of Social Development, 10 July 2001