ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD AIDS DAY
PRETORIA SHOWGROUNDS
1 DECEMBER 2009
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe,
The Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and all Ministers and Deputy
Ministers present,
Premier of Gauteng Nomvula
Mokonyane and MECs present,
Executive Mayor of Tshwane Dr Gwen Ramokgopa,
Deputy Chairperson of the SA National Aids Council, Mark Heywood,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
UN Aids Executive Director Michel Sedibe and all representatives of
international agencies,
Fellow South Africans,
Today we join millions of people across the globe to mark World Aids Day.
We join multitudes who have determined that this epidemic cannot be overcome
without a concerted and coordinated effort.
We join millions who understand that the epidemic is not merely a health
challenge. It is a challenge with profound social, cultural and economic
consequences.
It is an epidemic that affects entire nations. Yet it touches on matters that
are intensely personal and private.
Unlike many others, HIV and AIDS cannot be overcome simply by improving the
quality of drinking water, or eradicating mosquitoes, or mass immunisation.
It can only be overcome by individuals taking responsibility for their own
lives and the lives of those around them.
Fellow South Africans,
As a country, we have done much to tackle HIV and AIDS.
In every sector of society, there are individuals and groups who have worked
tirelessly to educate, advocate, care, treat, prevent and to break the stigma
that still surrounds the epidemic.
Today, we wish to acknowledge their dedicated efforts.
As government we are ready to play our role of leadership, building on the
foundation that has been laid over the past 15 years.
Under the leadership of Presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema
Motlanthe, the democratic government has put in place various strategies to
comprehensively deal with HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted
infections.
Working with other sectors through the South African National Aids Council, we
have managed to harness unity in confronting this scourge.
The amount of resources dedicated to prevention, treatment and care has
increased with each successive year.
But it is not enough. Much more needs to be done.
We need extraordinary measures to reverse the trends we are seeing in the
health profile of our people.
We know that the situation is serious. We have seen the statistics.
We know that the average life expectancy of South Africans has been falling,
and that South Africans are dying at a young age.
We have seen the child-headed and granny-headed households, and have witnessed
the pain and displacement of orphans and vulnerable children.
These facts are undeniable. We should not be tempted to downplay the
statistics and impact or to deny the reality that we face.
At the same time, the epidemic is not about statistics. It is about people,
about families, and communities.
It is about our loved ones.
For many families, it is a burden that they have to bear alone, fearful of
discrimination and stigma.
Dear Compatriots,
Now is not the time to lament. It is the time to act decisively, and to act
together.
Our message is simple. We have to stop the spread of HIV. We must reduce the
rate of new infections. Prevention is our most powerful weapon against the
epidemic.
All South Africans should take steps to ensure that they do not become
infected, that they do not infect others and that they know their status.
Each individual must take responsibility for protection against HIV. To the
youth, the future belongs to you.
Be responsible and do not expose yourself to risks.
Parents and heads of households, let us be open with our children and educate
them about HIV and how to prevent it.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are still marking the 16 days of activism against violence on women and
children. During this period, it is important that we also remember to uphold
the rights of women and children, including their right to protection from
infection with HIV.
Many women are unable to negotiate for protection due to unequal power
relations in relationships.
As we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday, the
3rd of December, let us remember the impact of HIV on persons with disability.
We have to tailor government programmes and messages to also speak to the
needs of this sector.
Fellow South Africans,
To take our response a step forward, we are launching a massive campaign to
mobilise all South Africans to get tested for HIV.
Every South African should know his or her HIV status. To prepare for a
continuous voluntary testing campaign, we would like to announce a few new
measures, to expand our response.
All children under one year of age will get treatment if they test positive.
Initiating treatment will therefore not be determined by the level of CD cells.
This decision will contribute significantly towards the reduction of infant
mortality over time.
All patients with both TB and HIV will get treatment with anti-retrovirals if
their CD4 count is 350 or less. At present treatment is available when the CD4
count is less than 200. TB and HIV/Aids will now be treated under one roof.
This policy change will address early reported deaths arising from undetected
TB infection among those who are infected with HIV.
We have taken this step, particularly on learning that approximately 1% of our
population has TB and that the co-infection between TB and HIV is 73%.
All pregnant HIV positive women with a CD4 count of 350 or with symptoms
regardless of CD4 count will have access to treatment. At present HIV positive
pregnant women are eligible for treatment if their CD4 count is less than 200.
All other pregnant women not falling into this category, but who are HIV
positive, will be put on treatment at fourteen weeks of pregnancy to protect
the baby. In the past this was only started during the last term of pregnancy.
In order to meet the need for testing and treatment, we will work to ensure
that all the health institutions in the country are ready to receive and assist
patients and not just a few accredited ARV centres. Any citizen should be able
to move into any health centre and ask for counselling, testing and even
treatment if needed.
The implementation of all these announcements is effective from April 2010.
Institutions are hard at work to ensure that systems are in place by the 31st
of March.
What does this all mean? It means that we will be treating significantly
larger numbers of HIV positive patients. It means that people will live longer
and more fulfilling lives.
What does it NOT mean? It does not mean that we should be irresponsible in our
sexual practices.
It does not mean that people do not have to practice safer sex. It does not
mean that people should not use condoms consistently and correctly during every
sexual encounter.
We can eliminate the scourge of HIV if all South Africans take responsibility
for their actions.
I need to re-emphasise at this point that we must intensify our prevention
efforts if we are to turn off the tap of new HIV and TB infections. Prevention
is our most powerful and effective weapon.
We have to overcome HIV the same way that it spreads - one individual at a
time. We have to really show that all of us are responsible.
The HIV tests are voluntary and they are confidential. We know that it is not
easy. It is a difficult decision to take.
But it is a decision that must be taken by people from all walks of life, of
all races, all social classes, all positions in society. HIV does not
discriminate.
I am making arrangements for my own test. I have taken HIV tests before, and I
know my status. I will do another test soon as part of this new campaign. I
urge you to start planning for your own tests.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are also mindful of the social impact of the epidemic, and continue to
provide psycho-social support and home based care, through the Home Community
Based Care and child care programmes of government.
Let me use this opportunity to salute all our caregivers including those
neighbours who assist and support families in distress.
We also thank our international partners, who continue to provide material
support to our campaign against AIDS.
On this day, our hearts go out to all South Africans who are in distress as a
result of this epidemic. To families looking after sick relatives, we wish you
strength. We understand what you are going through.
To those who have lost their loved ones to the epidemic we share your pain,
and extend our deepest condolences.
Fellow South Africans,
At another moment in our history, in another context, the liberation movement
observed that the time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only
two choices: submit or fight.
That time has now come in our struggle to overcome AIDS.
Let us declare now, as we declared then, that we shall not submit.
We have no choice but to deploy every effort, mobilise every resource, and
utilise every skill that our nation possesses, to ensure that we prevail in
this struggle for the health and prosperity of our nation.
History has demonstrated the strength of a nation united and determined.
We are a capable, innovative and motivated people.
Together we fought and defeated a system so corrupt and reviled that it was
described as a crime against humanity.
Together we can overcome this challenge.
Let today be the dawn of a new era.
Let there be no more shame, no more blame, no more discrimination and no more
stigma.
Let the politicisation and endless debates about HIV and AIDS stop.
Let this be the start of an era of openness, of taking personal
responsibility, and of working together in unity to prevent HIV infections and
to deal with its impact.
Working together, we can achieve these goals!
I thank you.
Sent via my BlackBerry Device from Vodacom - let your email find you!
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