War against HIV-Aids paying dividends – Premier Makhura
01-12-2014
Gauteng has made significant progress in the war against HIV-Aids, Premier David Makhura said during World Aids Day celebrations held jointly by the Gauteng Provincial Government and City of Johannesburg at the Johannesburg City Hall on Monday.
The premier said, however, that although the province was beginning to win the war against the epidemic, it was important for everyone to guard against complacency and not to fall into a false sense of security.
“We cannot let our guards down, and this goes for all our people,” Makhura told throngs of people who attended the event.
Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele told the gathering that the City’s fight against the spread of HIV-Aids was informed by its Growth and Development Strategy 2040 (GDS 2040).
The strategy states that “by 2040 Johannesburg residents will [be] living in a healthy city that can withstand the threat of disease and where HIV prevalence will be dramatically reduced”.
The MMC said the City was mindful of the 2014 Melbourne Aids Declaration, which called for the eradication of discrimination against people living with and at risk of HIV to ensure equal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care.
“If we want to change the course of HIV, we must make sure nobody is left behind,” said MMC Molwele.
The Johannesburg Aids Council, chaired by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau, has been conducting a citywide HIV-Aids awareness campaign under the theme “Zero Stigma and Discrimination” to show support for people living with the virus.
On Saturday, the council held a Man2Man Dialogue at the Sandton City Mall and Sandton taxi rank.
According to the 2012 South African National HIV, Incidence and Behaviour Survey – released recently by the Human Sciences Research Council – the City of Johannesburg’s HIV prevalence rate stands at 11.6%. Ekurhuleni and City of Tshwane recorded 14.3% and 11.7% prevalence rates respectively.
Premier Makhura said it was important “to take stock of where we are so that we keep up the pressure and ensure that we decrease new infections”.
He said the province, in partnership with civil organisations, particularly the Gauteng Aids Council, would visit communities to assist in the fight against the disease and prevent new infections.
He said guided by research, the council would target specifically the youth.
“We are moving into a new phase in which we must work with young girls for this is the most vulnerable group when it comes to contracting HIV-Aids,” said Premier Makhura.
“We must address the conditions that lead to the vulnerability of young women becoming victims of the scourge. The conditions most young women find themselves in are for us of great concern. Most of these have to do with development and also the fact that for a large number [of women], economic opportunities are limited, hence they become easily exploitable.”
On the 16 Days Activism against Women and Children Abuse campaign, the premier called on communities to “come out and fight the abuse of women and children”.
“The police cannot be expected to deal with the scourge alone. The community must stand up and assist bring this to an end,” he said.
On Friday December 5 the City of Johannesburg’s employees will be invited to a dialogue to be facilitated by Dr Tiny Mhinga at Metro Centre.