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HIV affliction in the Eastern Cape
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Health

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 PRESS RELEASE :

BRIEF–HIV AFFLICTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE

ATTENTION : ALL MEDIA

DATE : 22 AUGUST 1999

The scourge of the HIV virus at the Province cannot be overemphasised. At the moment, research shows the rate of people positive with the 
virus in the Eastern Cape at 15.9% and growing. The estimate for the next year is rather gloomy and is anticipated at around 20% . The most 
affected group, according to the findings is 20-24years.

The problem of HIV among the most affected groups is also of concern especially when one looks at the pregnancy rate amongst teenagers and 
the youth. Provincial figures have, unfortunately, not been reduced with the HIV safe sex message. The implication of this is that there is 
generally reluctance to safe sex message or that complacency within the groups is high.

Various initiatives, as you may be aware, have been designed around this problem. We are pleased to announce that as part of the concerted 
program on prevention, the National Health Department has provided provinces with two posts at its expense to work on the project. The 
Division responsible for this enterprise is GAAP or Government Aids Action Plan.

The process of employing the two officials is already underway with advertising, short-listing and interview processes already completed. 
The appointment process is thus awaited soon.

Although functions deputed for the two officials are similar their areas of operation shall be separate with one operating within 
government and the other with the NGO/CBO sector. The government assigned official will mobilise departments and internally on an awareness 
and prevention method. The other official will work as earlier stated, with the community based and Non-government organisations.

The employees will be on the payroll on an annual renewable contract. Most concerning about the spread of the virus provincially is the 
fact that the Eastern Cape has a high ratio of Tuberculosis. The already mentioned actuality is mores serious especially with the 
conjoining between the two. At the moment there are 32 000 T.B. patients receiving treatment from the department provincially. This number 
is likely to rise dramatically with the advent or growth of the HIV virus.

In addition to the above, may I also remind you that the Department of Health is currently funding 34 CBO/NGO’s to the tune of R2.5m for 
various health care and support initiatives particularly on preventative programs.

It is also worth pointing that at national level, the government is taking the whole matter very seriously. As you may be aware, an Inter-
Ministerial forum was established under the chairmanship of the former Deputy President Thabo Mbeki. The unit is now under the chairmanship 
of the Deputy President, Mr. Jacob Zuma. Its main task is to facilitate strategy, ensure implementation and monitor progress of projects or 
initiatives such as GAAP.

END

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