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World AIDS Day speech by Minister of Health
Issued by the Ministry of Health. 01 December 2003.
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I greet you in the spirit of hope and unity that inspires millions of people in many countries across the globe to celebrate World AIDS Day each year.
We have gathered here today to pledge that we will work together, care together and stand together - shoulder to shoulder - to meet the challenge of HIV and AIDS.
We are here to say to the world that we believe in ourselves and in our own power - as a united people - to defeat one of the most terrible diseases of modern times. We do not say this lightly. We do not close our eyes to the size of the problem, to the fact that HIV/AIDS remains incurable and to the extreme poverty it brings to families. We see these things and we understand what this means to our nation as a whole.
But we are not helpless. We know how to prevent HIV infection. We have medicines and services to manage the illnesses associated with HIV/AIDS, to assist the body to fight infection and to prolong life. And, although we are not a rich nation, we have ways to relieve the worst effects of poverty. We often read headlines in the newspapers telling us how many people will die of AIDS in the next few years, how many children will be left as orphans and how the average lifespan of South Africans will be shortened. These stories usually present the worst picture - they tell us what will happen if we sit back and do nothing. We should take these stories as a warning and a challenge - and we should do everything in our power to ensure that their predictions do not come true.
The first thing is to recognise that every individual has a part to play. We are all affected by HIV and AIDS and we must take our individual responsibility seriously, whether we are HIV-positive or HIV-negative. About 90% of South Africans - that is, nine out of every 10 -- are fortunate enough to be HIV-negative. If you fall into this group, you can ensure that you remain free of HIV.
There is also a large group of South Africans - more than five million - that are HIV-positive. The majority are not aware they have HIV because the virus is not yet making them sick. The only way to be sure is to take an HIV-test.
For many years Government has preached the ABC of safer sex. We still strongly believe that prevention is by far the best option and we will continue to promote it at every opportunity. But, from today, you will also hear us preach about VCT - voluntary counselling and testing for HIV. We all need to be sure of our HIV-status in order to take the right action. In recent years we have come to understand HIV and AIDS much better. We may not be able to cure it - but we do know successful ways of managing it. And the earlier we start, the better. In 2004, Government will be expanding the sites where you can get a free HIV test -- but only you can take the test.
The third area of individual responsibility is providing love and support for family members and friends who are HIV-infected or ill with HIV/AIDS. No government and no organisation can replace the love and care of a mother, a father, a lover, a child, a brother, a sister or a good friend. If someone close to you is living with HIV or AIDS, only you can overcome your own pain, fear and prejudices to give them the precious gift of love.
The second effective weapon in our war on HIV and AIDS is unity. Individual actions are important, but we can do even more when we join forces and work together. It is through joint action that we will be able to care for the sick people in our community and ensure that their children have food, clothing and the guidance of adults. It is through joint action that we can ensure that our women and children are protected from sexual violence and abuse. It is through our communities that we can teach our children to respect themselves and protect their future.
We have a proud history of mobilisation since the Partnership against AIDS was launched five years ago. But the need for care, support and medical treatment is growing steadily, and it is a real challenge to keep pace. We must join hands to achieve the best possible care we can manage. We must join forces to put the brakes more sharply on the rate of infection.
Another essential weapon in our campaign to overcome HIV and AIDS is expertise - the knowledge and the skills of experts. HIV and AIDS - and the closely related disease of tuberculosis - are not only medical problems. They need to be tackled on many fronts by people from different occupational and community groups. But I would like to take a few minutes to focus on the importance of health care workers.
Firstly I would like to pay tribute to all health professionals including community health workers who have held the frontline in our confrontation with HIV and AIDS. Many have learned new skills - counselling, HIV testing, advising on nutrition or organising home care systems - to deal with this illness that still has no cure.
I would like to use this important day to salute you. I am also saying that we will be expecting more of you in future than ever before. In line with Cabinet's recent decision we are starting with the implementation of the Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment.
This is a broad plan that retains prevention as a mainstay of our response and puts added emphasis of nutrition and poverty alleviation and includes a number of treatment options - from the use of traditional medicines to the provision of anti-retroviral drugs to those who have reached an advanced stage of AIDS. People are going to be given choices in terms of the treatment option they prefer.
We recognise that many of our people are taking traditional medicines. Through the Medical Research Council, we are doing research to ensure that people use medicines that are effective and of good quality. We also want to ensure that the owners of those traditional medicines that bring benefit to people with AIDS get protection in terms of their right to intellectual property.
The full statement can be downloaded on the righthand side of this page |
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