African National Congress Women's League Deputy President Nosipho Dorothy Ntwanambi issued a statement on behalf of the organization commemorating World AIDS Day on December 1, 2009.
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1 December 2009
The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) joins the people of South Africa and the peoples of the world in marking World Aids Day (1 December) under the theme "Universal Access and Human Rights".
The ANCWL uses the occasion of World Aids Day to reconfirm its commitment and resolve to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, recognising these as fundamental human rights.
We use this occasion to reaffirm our commitment to join government and civil society efforts to ensure that the rights of women and children who are affected and infected by HIV and AIDS are protected and that those infected have access to the various regiments of antiviral (ARV) medication.
We acknowledge that gender based violence and abuse of women and children undermine efforts to reduce the spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The ANCWL would like to use the occasion of World AIDS Day to reiterate its support for the 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children under the theme: "Don't look away, Act against Abuse".
World Aids Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the progress that our nation is making in implementing a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS as part of an overall strategy to tackle the disease. We are concern that although South Africa has a comprehensive strategy to tackle HIV and AIDS that has been acknowledged internationally, and has the largest anti-retroviral programme in the world, our nation is not yet winning the devastating impact of this pandemic on our healthcare system, households and families across South Africa.
We want to reiterate that our hope is rekindled by the new urgency and purpose expressed by the government. In this regard, we want to welcome the firmness and unequivocal message of President Jacob Zuma's cabinet on the government's approach to fighting HIV and AIDS.
While we acknowledge progress in preventing the further spread of HIV among our people, particularly the youth, we are concern that young women still remain vulnerable to HIV and AIDS in our society. We call on government to expand educational and awareness-raising programmes targeting young women.
The fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic requires a well functioning and resourced healthcare system. We want to use this occasion to call on government to move ahead with reforms to strengthen our country's health care system. Without a well functioning and strengthened healthcare system, significant access to ARV therapy is unlikely to be achieved.
Society has a crucial role to play in the fight against HIV and AIDS, particularly in assisting those affected and infected, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and reiterating the message of abstinence, be faithful and condomise. We call on society to join hands with the government and civil society to tackle prejudice, ignorance and stigmatisation surrounding HIV and AIDS.
As the ANCWL, we will continue to mobilise our members and supporters behind this critical struggle against the spread of HIV and AIDS, and pursue through all levels of government a comprehensive programme which locates the struggle against HIV and AIDS within the broader national struggle to the emancipation of women.
Working together, we can win the battle against HIV and AIDS!
Issued by:
Nosipho Dorothy Ntwanambi
Deputy President of the ANCWL
Cell: 083 658 0097 / 071 609 2856
For enquiries contact:
Vuyi Manyandela
ANCWL Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 331 2452
E-mail: vuyim@anc.org.za
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