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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 10 Oct 2008 Title: Govt celebrates 10 years Partnership Against AIDS -------------------- By Gabi Khumalo Pretoria - Since its inception 10 years ago, Government's Partnership Against AIDS (PAA) initiative has mage huge strides in promoting HIV and AIDS awareness and implementing comprehensive programmes in the developing world. Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the PAA held on Thursday at Atteridgeville Super Stadium, Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa said among the province's achievements included the establishment of the Gauteng AIDS Council, which identified priority areas which include prevention, treatment, care and support. "We have achieved significant progress in promoting awareness around HIV and AIDS, the challenge to overcome is to translate this awareness to change in behaviour and stigma and discrimination. "We have gone beyond the era of finger pointing, we are now all working together as a united force facing a common enemy," Mr Hlongwa said. The PAA, which was launched in 1998 by the then Deputy and former President Thabo Mbeki, strives for a broad-based, multi-sectoral societal response which recognises that no single entity or person is solely responsible for addressing the HIV epidemic. The celebration marks the successes to date and also a reminder that HIV and AIDS is prevalent and that although South Africa has won some battles, the war is ongoing. Mr Hlongwa said the event themed "STOP HIV and AIDS. Recommit yourself!" marks a major milestone in the history of a caring and responsive government. "This theme seeks to strengthen our efforts and leadership, commitment and accountability in the response to the spread of HIV and AIDS," Mr Hlongwa said. He said the government was committed to extend a helping hand to children, vulnerable women and people living with disabilities including the aged who need care and support. "We recommit ourselves to voluntarily test for HIV in order to know our status and take appropriate measures depending on test results, we also recommit ourselves to extend a helping hand to those who need care and support in our communities," Mr Hlongwa said. He further emphasised that government still recognises and value social mobilisation as one of the key responses to the challenge of HIV and AIDS. "The power of social mobilisation can never be over emphasised, when government launched the first National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS in 2000, we involved civil society, faith based organisations, sporting bodies, business sector and a host of a cross-section of partners," he said. Among the strides made by the province in implementing the comprehensive, care, management and treatment up to the end of August includes 142 846 patients who are on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) with 12 956 children, 65 facilities offering ART including hospitals and clinics as well as all public health facilities, which offer Voluntary Counselling and Testing. "We continue to implement Multi-Therapy for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in all facilities which offer ante-natal care services and have exceeded all the targets that we set for ourselves since we began implementing this programme," Mr Hlongwa said. The Tshwane Executive Mayor, Gwen Ramokgopa said she was also concerned about the impact of alcohol and drug abuse has on young people's lives and condemned adults who provided the substance to them. "Abstaining is a choice and a better one, we must remember to make commitment to ourselves to be responsible knowing that the prevention of HIV is our choice," Ms Ramokgopa said. The South African National Aids Council executive member, Tom Boya encouraged the importance of supporting families and friends including health workers who assist patients infected with HIV and AIDS. "We want to encourage researchers to carry on with the work their doing so that one day they'll find a cure for this disease and also support the government for securing medication for the hospitals and their programmes including healthy lifestyle," Mr Boya said. - BuaNews |
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