Towards Sixteen Days Activism Programme 16 - 11 - 06

Towards Sixteen Days Activism Programme

The Congress of South African Trade Union in North West Province, in consultation with civil society and other organisations, has resolved to embark on a peaceful march to the office of the Premier on the day of the celebration of old HIV/Aids Day - 1st December 2006.

COSATU has been following the inconsistency of the Provincial Aids Council and the Department of Health in reporting to the public, in their strategic meetings and summit, that there is a programme to deliver ARVs to the people of North West, including during the celebration of World HIV/Aids Day on 1st December. After our visit to the hospitals and rural clinics it is very clear that there is nothing being provided to the people of North West.

It is has been reported in a two-page report that the World HIV/Aids Day will be celebrated at Tlhabane Stadium on 1st December 2006, and we are calling on the Department of Health, Premier’s office and Provincial Council of Aids to focus on the delivery of ARVs and a health programme on the same day, and not to give political speeches whilst our people are dying on the ground.

It is also reported by the majority of our members and community members that people are put on a waiting list for more than two weeks to get the health care they need. COSATU, with the support of other civil society in the Province, will present a demand to the premier to act immediately to eradicate the waiting lists for those who need ARVs and other health medication.

Our visit to more than three Provincial hospitals of the North West Province confirmed the lack of support, shortage of nurses, shortage of doctors, and no capacity building for the majority of staff. For example in Brits Hospital patients from poor communities are waiting for one doctor for more that three days, sleeping on the floor without blankets. One ward accommodates three categories of patient - maternity, psychiatric and HIV/Aids.

COSATU, with the support of civil society, calls upon the Provincial Government, the office of the Premier and the Provincial Aids Council to stop to make sure that people who are HIV/Aids positive are provided with medication to survive.

It is our view that people are not receiving medication due to poor management, poor co-ordination of the delivery of ARVs and lack of capacity building support to the health workers to deliver to the people of North West, including shortage of doctors.

COSATU will release its programme for the sixteen days of activism in consultation with civil society, a week from today, which will include visiting all provincial hospitals and clinics, in rural areas in particular, with a clear message of “Know your status, know the impact” and encourage people to test and take medication on time.

Our programme will also include the campaign against the abuse of farm workers, in particular women and children, who still face very serious victimisation, racism by farmers, and some Government Officials taking sides against workers, in particular from Public Safety and Justice.

We are calling upon our Home Affairs Department to work with Department of Justice and Safety to arrest and all those who continue to abuse, rape and assault our sisters.

Our Proudly South African Campaign will also focus on making sure that we buy our local materials during December holidays.

We call upon Government, business, civil society, and political parties including all churches to support our programme of action on 1st December 2006 to demand a rollout programme of action and delivery of ARVs to poor communities, so that the people of North West enjoy their rights

For more information please feel free to contact Solly Phetoe Provincial Secretary of COSATU North West 082 304 4055

SANGOCO Provincial Co-ordination Cynthia Chichimba – 082 5656 438