HIV/AIDS Committee Report: adoption
Monitoring Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women
14 November 2001
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Meeting report
JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON THE
IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN
14 November 2001
HIV/AIDS COMMITTEE REPORT: ADOPTION
Chairperson: Ms P Govender
Documents Handed Out
Report of Joint
Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life & Status of Women
SUMMARY:
The Committee presented the report on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls
following the HIV/AIDS hearings of the past months. The report was unanimously
adopted.
MINUTES
Deputy Chairperson, Ms P Themba explained that the purpose of this meeting
was to adopt the committee's report on HIV/AIDS. The committee read through the
report following changes made after the closed meeting on the report of the previous
week.
How Best Can South Africa Address the Horrific Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women
and Girls ?
The Chairperson, Ms Govender, proceeded through the report. The report
consists of the committee's conclusions and recommendations following the
HIV/AIDS hearings, where the views of both civil society and government were
presented in numerous oral and written submissions. The report remained out of
the current debate about whether HIV causes AIDS, working from the premise that
HIV does cause AIDS.
The main points of the report were summarised. Statistical data presented at
the hearings confirmed the seriousness of the epidemic in South Africa. There
are several determinants of the epidemic: behavioural factors, such as
unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple partners as well as socio-economic
factors such as poverty, migrant labour, the low status of women in society,
and stigmatising of the disease. Women are worst affected by the disease
because of their inferior economic and social status, violence against women,
and other biological factors. The committee recommends a holistic integrated
response encompassing prevention and treatment, and endorses the Government's
HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005.
The report emphasises the need to address HIV/AIDS and its intersection with
gender based violence and poverty. In relation to this the committee recommends
replacing the term 'Mother to Child Transmission' with 'Parent to Child
Transmission', since the former reinforces society's blaming of women for
HIV/AIDS. In fact in most cases the women is infected by her male partner, and
in turn passes the virus on to their child.
The Committee concluded that the ABC (Abstain, Be Faithful, Condomise) campaign
does not work because there are so many socio-cultural barriers to women's
sexual autonomy. There is an overlap of the dual epidemics of HIV and gender
violence in women's lives, such as the myth that sleeping with a virgin cures
HIV/AIDS. The committee endorses
priority areas and goals of the SA Strategic HIV/AIDS/STD plan, which includes
prevention, treatment, care and support, research, monitoring and surveillance
(AIDS vaccine development and policy research) and the creation of an
appropriate social environment via human and legal rights.
The committee called on men and boys to recognise their role and responsibility
in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. The committee endorsed the use of
Neviropene in the prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PTCT), as well as
the use of infant formula. The committee also recommended the use of
anti-retrovirals (ARV's) as post-exposure prophylaxis for rape, and felt
outrage at the idea that a 100% full-proof preventative measure would not be
used to prevent the additional tragedy of the rape survivor contracting
HIV/AIDS.
The report cited the example of Brazil as a developing country resembling South
Africa where a 'treatment and prevention campaign' had been implemented
successfully. The report said that South Africa should take steps to ensure that
nothing in the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)
would prevent the protection of public health. In other words it is possible to
change the agreement to ensure that affordable generics can be produced to
provide for sustained treatment for all. 'Treatment for all' is not a pipe
dream.
Summaries of each of the written and Oral submissions are included in appendix
A of the report.
Discussion
Dr J Benjamin made the point that although the committee had
recommended changing the term Mother to child transmission (MTCT) to Parent to
child transmission (PTCT) this had not been used consistently throughout the
report. She referred to Section E: The
Committee endorsing Priority Areas and Goals of South Africa's Strategic
HIV/AIDS/STD.
The chairperson pointed out that this had been a direct quote from the
government's strategic plan.
Dr Benjamin, however, insisted on this point and that the committee should
somehow indicate that the term 'MTCT' was outside of their recommended language.
The chairperson agreed to this.
Ms S Botha acknowledged the invaluable work reflected in this report but
pointed out that the real problem consisted of the persistence of the
dissidents in the idea that HIV does not cause AIDS.
The chairperson pointed out that the committee had addressed this issue without
engaging in the controversial debate by working on the premise that HIV does
cause AIDS.
Another DA member, part of the sub committee on the HIV/AIDS hearings
congratulated the committee on pulling together a set of very diverse hearings,
emphasising the central role of the chairperson, Ms Govender, in producing this
report. She furthermore commented that the report needed to address the problem
of younger girls having sex with older men.
Ms J Kgoali stated that the committee should follow up issues raised in this
report, rather than changing the content of the current report. She addressed
Ms Botha's criticism by reminding her that the president had earlier given this
committee permission to address all departments to achieve its aims. One member
pointed out the importance of the Government's HIV/AIDS/STD Strategy Plan in
relation to shaping this report.
Other members commented on the need for further groundwork and research in
rural areas.
The deputy chairperson, Ms Themba, suggested the immediate adoption of the
report, rather than continuing to debate it now.
The chairperson explained that it would have to be tabled in both houses of
parliament to be followed by a debate in both houses.
Ms Themba said that the committee must table the report before the end of the
year. Other members said that it is preferable for the report was tabled at the
same time that it was debated.
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Ms JÂ Kgoali said that the presence of
the media at the meeting suggested that the committee adopt the report now,
even though strategically it made more sense to debate and table
simultaneously.
The decision was taken that the committee would adopt the report now, and
debate it next year.
The Chairperson suggested that members draw up a questionnaire and some
guidelines for post report hearings.
Dr. Benjamin suggested that the discussions should not be called hearings but
'report backs'.
There was further discussion concerning popularising the report in rural areas,
in other words of having hearings with MP's in these areas.
Ms S Maine said that the committee must be realistic, ensuring it is equipped
to achieve such proposals. A request was made for a breakdown of the financial
resources of Provincial Population
Units (PPU's) by next week.
The report on violence against women would be circulated next year.
The meeting concluded with a farewell and thanks to Ms S Dawood, who is moving
to the NCOP. The committee also thanked Ms S Pauw, committtee clerk; and Ms C
Rustin, committee researcher, whose experience in the health sector was
invaluable in organising the HIV/AIDS hearings.
Sophie Maine thanked the media for the exposure of the committee's work. She
also thanked the opposition. Ms B Sono (DA), thanked the ANC members. Finally
the chairperson thanked the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG).
The meeting was adjourned.
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