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Aids awareness campaign
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Welfare

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SPEECH ON AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

PRESENTED BY THE MEC FOR WELFARE

MS NCUMISA KONDLO

ON 30 JULY 1999



Master of ceremonies,
 His Majesty King Xolilizwe Sigcawu,
 Leaders of the Traditional House,
 Community members,
 Honoured guests,
 Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me first thank you for the honour you bestowed upon me by allowing me to be part of this auspicious occasion .

We are gathered here today to tackle an issue which needs attention within the Southern Region. Studies have shown that AIDS/HIV is the 
second social and economical problem after poverty.

Today we are calling upon all men and women, young and old, educated and illiterate to join hands once again and confront HIV/Aids which is 
threatening the future of the nation that we are re-building.

HIV prevalence has continued to rise, with women in their twenties having the highest rate at 26% for the 20-24 age group and 26.9% for the 
25-29 age group. The rate is for the 30-34 age group is slightly lower at 19%

The ninth National HIV survey of women attending antenatal clinic revealed the following shocking statistics:

It is estimated that 22,8% of women attending antenatal clinics nationally were infected with HIV/Aids by the end of 1998. This represent a 
33,8% increase of prevalence since 1997.

Of concern is the increase in the rate amongst 15 - 19 year old girls from 12,7% to 21% this year.

The highest is Kwa Zulu-Natal with 32,5%.

Free State with 22,8%

Gauteng with 22,5%

Eastern Cape with 15,9%

Though the Eastern Cape is ranked the lowest among the Provinces, that does not mean we need to sit on our laurels.



Research has also shown that in November 1997 more than a quarter million adults were living with HIV in the Eastern Cape. The majority of 
people living with HIV in our province are under 30 years old, and probably belong to the more educated and productive class of the 
society.

Those living in rural areas are more likely to be infected due to ignorance and scarcity of resources and information. The HIV/AIDS 
epidemic is one of the greatest thread to the future of South Africa. It threatens to halt or reverse social and economic gains and is a 
major impediment to sustainable development.

In spite of the growing scourge of the epidemic in South Africa, people living with Aids/HIV are afraid to reveal their condition due to 
the hostility they will have to face. HIV/Aids is real, it is amongst us and women are particularly vulnerable to infection.

1. South Africa has one of the growing epidemic in the world.

2. There are up to 1500 new infections everyday.

3. Partners in a relationship or marriage must remain faithful to each other.

We also know that women are not assertive enough to force men to use condoms. It should therefore become the responsibility of both 
partners to ensure that whenever one they engage in sexual intercourse they use a condom. We know of women who are labelled unfaithful, 
assaulted by their partners when they dare mention the word "condom".

We are also aware of young girls who are abducted by men in perpetuation of the myth that having sex with a virgin will cure them of HIV. 
Poor women are more vulnerable to HIV infection than women who are not poor.

What we are saying is that men and women must fight HIV/Aids. Men and women throughout the length and breath of South Africa with a common 
goal and vision and that is to stop this disease from spreading further and claiming the lives of our loved ones.

We must not be paralysed by fear. We cannot afford to be immobilised, we have to act. We have to act with the knowledge that each of us 
have choices and rights, the choice to change our sexual behaviour and the right to protect ourselves.

I call upon every one of you to make a firm and unwavering commitment to fight this scourge. There is a lot of work to be done to save the 
nation.

I thank you



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