Title
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE ON RESOLUTIONS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE (MPLs) DURING A WORKSHOP HELD IN PORT ELIZABETH, 24-25 JUNE 2008, FOR DEVELOPING A PROVINCIAL OVERSIGHT MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT OF HIV/ AIDS
A workshop held from 24-25 June 2008 for development of a Provincial HIV & Aids oversight model had Honourable Members of the Eastern Cape Legislature making landmark resolutions to enhance Eastern Cape's capacity to address impacts of the scourge of HIV & AIDS.
In view of the impact of challenges confronting Health, Education and Social Development regarding the management of the socio-economic impacts of HIV & Aids; Members of the Eastern Cape Legislature resolved:
- To provide leadership in support of the fight against HIV & AIDS by through education, information sharing & elimination of ignorance.
- To provide leadership by overseeing government's implementation of guidelines & strategies on the management of HIV and AIDS; whilst upholding human rights of all the affected and infected.
- To ensure integration of HIV & Aids oversight role into the work of all portfolio committees and expand the state's response in the Legislature. This entails creation of effective partnerships with civil society & enhancing public participation.
- To use Legislative oversight authority to ensure resources and capacity are leveraged at all levels to ensure a formidable front against the scourge of HIV & AIDS
- And to ensure establishment of a research capacity in Parliament on implementation of interventions for managing HIV & AIDS
Elaborating why the Legislature championed the workshop for developing an oversight model for Management of HIV & Aids; - Ms. Noxolo Kiviet, Honourable Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature said- "in deliberations we had over the past two days, we came to an understanding of the niche role that Members of the Legislature should play to ensure people are able to access information on preventing the disease, treatment and care for those who have already been infected".
Against this background, the Members of the Provincial Legislature thus agreed on the deliverables for executing the resolutions of this workshop:
- § The social needs cluster leadership will engage the Executive Council on the budget for the procurement of ARV and the current over spending. Members of the Legislature will act as be ex-officio members of District Aids Councils.
- § Constituency offices to develop integrated HIV and Aids management plans focussing on Prevention, Treatment, Care and support of the infected and affected.
- § Legislature to convene a workshop that will involve municipalities to develop an integrated approach on the implementation of the Provincial HIV & Aids Oversight model.
- § As well as ensure the Legislature regulates oversight of the HIV & AIDS work and ensure that it is integrated in members' constituency work.
The EC Aids Council expressed its excitement on the development of a clear programme of action for addressing challenges of HIV and Aids Management in the Province. "This land mark intervention is formulating a fertile ground for the implementation of the National Strategy on HIV & Aids with the Legislature providing leadership in ensuring all departments meet the set service delivery targets." Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa; CEO of the EC Aids Council.
Issued by the EC Provincial Legislature; for more information kindly liaise with Zukisa Nduneni @ mailto:znduneni@ecleg.gov.za 0716886714 OR Joe Sotshana @msotshana@ecleg.gov.za- 0796950978
