Advocacy and Networking

The AC believes that the mobilisation and unification of a strong affiliate body is within its scope, and that this will prove to be an area of the highest untapped potential and greatest opportunity. The consolidation of affiliates, the strengthening of our service package, and the support of our sub committees are major ongoing priorities which will continue into 2007 and 2008.

Some of the highlights:

28 August 2007

Solidarity with Nozizwe

The AIDS Consortium (AC) today held a protest meeting in Braamfontein at the AC offices. The protest was a way of expressing utter disappointment at the unjust dismissal of the former Deputy Minister of Health, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, whose contribution towards the fight against HIV and AIDS has been meaningful.
The meeting addressed issues around three main areas of concern, which are included in the memo to the President:
- Dismissal of the former Deputy Minister of health
- Human and gender rights
- The minister of health
Over 100 representatives attended the protest and signed the memo, which was later delivered to Luthuli House in Johannesburg.

The AC represents over 1000 HIV/AIDS and human rights activist NGOs, CBOs and individuals engaged in HIV work and represents the NGO sector on SANAC.
The AC demands include:
1. The immediate dismissal of Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
2. The immediate reinstatement of Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge
3. Immediate and stringent action to action and fast track previous commitments (eg. ART to prison inmates; dual therapy to PMTCT, wide access and endorsement of Anti Retrovial Therapy)
4. Unequivocal and mass resources to implementation plans of the NSP, inclusive of monitoring and evaluation
5. Complete and urgent restructuring of the public health system
6. High level mass endorsement of knowing your HIV status

To see the memo, click HERE and to endorse the memo, please send an email to info@aidsconsortium.org.za with the heading "endorsement of memo to president" and give your name and organisation.

 

This memorandum is being circulated through the Concerned Paediatricians Group (a group of paediatric HIV treaters around the country) and other people / organisations / societies / associations involved in public health / child health / maternal health / sister organisations.

It is seeking the endorsement of this memorandum by organisations / institutions / departments / associations / societies (not individuals) and will reflect the names of these from page 3 onwards. The memorandum will be sent to the Minister of Health, Deputy President/Chair of SANAC, Deputy Chair of SANAC, Childrens Sector and Womens Sector SANAC as well as the Maternal and Child Health Directorate at the National DOH. It will be sent by Monday 3rd September so that the department and SANAC receives it before the SANAC main plenary of 10 September and the proposed MTCT Review meeting on 11 September.

All endorsements and confirmation of endorsements are required by the end of this week (Friday 31st August).

Information needed from your organisation:
Send an e-mail with the name of the endorsing organisation / institution / department / association / society.

Indicate the name, contact number and e-mail of the contact person to facilitate feedback on progress .

Iindicate, based on the list of support in section B of the memorandum, what your organisation etc can / will undertake to intensify support e.g. training, monitoring and evaluation, technical input on drug regimens etc.

Outreach in the Westrand area in Gauteng

The AC hosted a workshop in partnership with the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the Basic Income Grant (BIG) to introduce the AC and its partners to the community of Westrand. The workshop aimed to learn more about this particular community and to determine what interventions would be helpful in responding to HIV/AIDS issues in this society.

The One in Nine Campaign

Three province survey by the Medical Research Council (MRC) on violence against women found that one-in-nine victims reported the matter.

The AC was part of the picket, organised by the One in Nine Campaign, held outside the Johannesburg High Court on 2nd October 2006. This was one year since Buyisiwe (not her real name) was gang raped on 2nd October 2005 and she had yet to give evidence in court. The picket aimed to challenge the justice system to make it easier for women to report and have their rape cases dealt with efficiently and promptly. The AC is part of the working group co-ordinating and implementing the One in Nine Campaign which has met with the National Prosecuting Authority.