Friday, December 01 2006
The SACP will join millions of our people today to observe the international World AIDS Day. As we do so we remember the victims of this scourge that has left our society torn apart, has left many kids as orphans and in particular we honour those who continue to champion the struggle for those infected and affected.
We observe this day against a background of renewed commitment from our government to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS and we particularly welcome the new partnership with civil society. Ours is to make sure that we improve already existing governments comprehensive strategy, with emphasis on all elements, i.e. prevention, cure, care and treatment.
In taking forward our pillar of work of building a strong voice of the working class and the poor, one of the major issue that has continues to weaken the voice of the poor has remained to HIV/AIDS.
We therefore need to deepen our educational campaign in order to prevent new infections and help those affected to be able to care for themselves, build community based and people driven care centres so that those affected are not isolated in the communities and as part of building a vibrant public health system, we call on government to fast track the rolling out of anti-retroviral to all public clinics and hospitals in our country.
Furthermore, the SACP in line with its campaign of building sustainable livelihoods calls on land for productive farming to be made available for the families to be able utilise for food gardens and not to withdraw the social grant for those living with AIDS till there is a guarantee that they can provide for themselves.
We will continue to fight hand in hand with the progressive forces against any discrimination in the financial sector and in society in general for those living with HIV.
Issued by the SACP
CONTACT:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson
Tel: 011 339 3621
Fax: 011 339 4244
Cell: 082 226 1802
Email: Malesela@sacp.org.za