SPEECH BY COUNCILLOR ANNEMARIE SPARG

HIV/AIDS

29 March 2007 

 

 

The ACDP has to say once again that we disagree with the Government Strategy on HIV and AIDS.

We refer here to free male and female condoms that will be distributed and agree that it is better to have some protection rather than nothing. But the issue actually has to do with morality.

The Government also want a regeneration of morals in the country but contradicts itself with promoting free condoms in the work place.

Current government-funded HIV education programmes provide inappropriate advice and mixed messages about sex that are counter-productive and confusing especially to the youth of today who have to learn about sex and condoms before they are emotionally mature to cope with information on sex.

The ACDP wants to see the introduction of sensible value life skills programmes that will promote the message of abstinence from premarital sex, whilst encouraging fidelity in marriage. A similar campaign has helped to drastically reduce the rate of HIV infections in countries such as Uganda. .

It is not impossible to live a pure life and I can now refer you to my two colleagues Cllr Dinkelmann and Cllr Derrik Kissondooth, who are both married have been faithful to their respective wives.

In addition to prevention, the ACDP believes that medical treatment, including the provision of anti-retroviral treatment and sound nutritional guidelines are desperately needed in order to help to prolong and improve the quality of life of those living with HIV/Aids. Because this killer disease is a health issue before it is a human rights issue, it must be treated as any other contagious disease. And the ACDP wants government to make it a notifiable disease.

Ms A Sparg
ACDP Councillor Tshwane Metro
ACDP GAUTENG MLO
+27 79 498 6971 (mobile)