Impact of HIV/AIDS on Health & Welfare of Children: briefing by UCT Child Health Policy Institute

Meeting report

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, and DISABLED PERSONS
6 June 2001
IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON HEALTH & WELFARE OF CHILDREN: BRIEFING BY UCT CHILD HEALTH POLICY INSTITUTE

Chairperson: Ms Bogopane (ANC)

Documents Distributed:
Impact of HIV/AIDS on Health and Welfare of Children in South Africa Submission by UCT Child Health Policy Institute
National Children’s Forum on HIV/AIDS (see Appendix)
Special Focus on Social Security for Children Infected With and Affected By HIV/AIDS

SUMMARY
The UCT Child Health Policy Institute gave a briefing on some of the impacts HIV/AIDS has on the health and welfare of children. The Institute said that there can be no question of the severity of the problems, and their potential long term effects and implications, particularly on the growing number of "AIDS orphans." It was stressed that some of the empirical data cited is based on informed projections, due to a lack of specific information in these relatively early stages of the pandemic in this country.

MINUTES
Impact of HIV/AIDS on Health and Welfare of Children
Ms S Giese of the UCT Child Health Policy Institute presented on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the health and welfare of children in South Africa (see document). She concluded with her call for the Committee to pay special attention to upcoming legislation which will affect children with AIDS: the Child Care Act, the National Health Bill, and the Social Assistance Amendment Bill and regulations.

Discussion
In response to questions from Mr Dithebe (ANC), Giese noted that the Medical Research Council does not fund the Child Health Policy Institute, that data from Statistics SA (among other groups) was used in preparation of her briefing, and that the development and use of a South African AIDS vaccine is "a long way off", that is, at least ten years.

Mr Gore (DP) asked whether research had specifically been done on the effect of AIDS orphans having to become family breadwinners, to which Giese replied that more information was necessary. On a point raised by Mr Lucas (ANC) about the reliability of available information, Giese indicated that much of the existing data was formulated on the basis of extrapolation from provincial ante-natal surveys, and that much more research is necessary to confirm the apparently dire trends.

Mr Lucas questioned whether current government policies were inadequate, since the rate of infection had appeared to rise, rather than decrease. Mr Moss (ANC) suggested that a decrease rather than an increase in this rate was predictable given the efficacy of government efforts to date.

In reply, Giese indicated that while government programmes were no doubt helpful, it was unsurprising that rates have continued to increase given the huge number of people already infected, and the nature of the disease.

Mr Morkel (NNP) requested the CHPI to submit its views on how the coming legislation can be tailored to address the issues affecting children with AIDS. Giese replied by stating CHPI's interest in doing so, and calling attention to its document focusing on social security for children affected by AIDS, which had been distributed to Committee members.

The Chair noted that the Committee will certainly be an active role-player as coming legislation is tabled.

International Children's Day (1 June 2001)
Mr Raju (DP) and Ms Rajbally (Minority Front) commended the Chair on the way the programme for this event, as coordinated by the Committee, had been run. The Deputy Chair, Mr Willem (ANC, Eastern Cape) concurred, but noted that Committee members should have been more visible - a view the Chair agreed with.

UN Conference on the Status of Children (September 2001)
The Chair noted that she, Mr Dithebe (ANC), and Ms Witbooi (NNP, Western Cape) would soon be going to New York for a preparatory meeting to present reports on the status of children in South Africa.

Youth Day (16 June) preparations
Ms Gandhi (ANC) suggested that the Committee provide a display in the Parliament lobby on the events in Soweto 25 years ago which the day commemorates. Mr Raju (DP) suggested that distinguished young sportsmen also be invited as part of the observance, which Ms Rajbaly (MF) endorsed. However, Mr Nzimande (ANC) suggested that the parliamentary debates referring to the observance, and calling attention to its historical context, would be enough.

The Chair noted that as the event is part of the build-up to the coming Conference on Racism to be hosted in the country, a focus on sport might cloud matters, though there is always an open invitation to have children observe proceedings from the gallery. As for providing a display, she also noted that there is only a very limited time to prepare one before next week's debates in the NA and NCOP.

Mr Morkel (NNP) added that while history must be remembered, there must also be a focus on the future. The Chair commented that the focus of Youth Day should remain on youth issues, and not on political issues. Mr Morkel objected to her inference that his party was politicising the matter.

Committee representation on international trips
The Chair raised the issue of the correspondence from Messrs Morkel and Gore, which each had signed noting his respective party affiliation, which requested that the DA, as the official opposition, be included in international delegations representing the Committee. She read the text of this letter, and her reply, which noted that as funds for such trips were limited, opposition parties would be accommodated as appropriate and feasible.

Mr Moss (ANC) noted that the letter from Morkel and Gore was written on the letterhead of the DA, an entity which does not officially exist under applicable parliamentary rules. Mr Maloyi (ANC) agreed and said that, notwithstanding the Chair's written response, the Committee cannot acknowledge a letter from an unrecognised entity.

Mr Morkel pointed out that while the letter was written on a DA letterhead, he and Gore had signed noting their respective party affiliations. Mr Maloyi, with support from Mr Moss, raised a point of order, saying that a letter from an unrecoginsed entity cannot be discussed. In response, the Chair noted that this point of order was technically correct, and ruled that there could be no further discussion until the letter was re-submitted in proper form, on behalf of the DP and NNP.

Appendix:
National Children’s Forum on HIV/AIDS
22 – 24 August 2001

Co-ordinated by:
Child Health Policy Institute
University of Cape Town

"Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. For this purpose, the child shall be provided the opportunity to be heard …"

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12.

Aims
To provide children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS with the opportunity to address decision-makers on issues of concern to children.

To provide decision-makers with the opportunity to discuss with children the impact of HIV/AIDS on children.

OBJECTIVES
To produce a "memorandum of action" which summarises the issues raised by the children and ensures a commitment to address these issues
To increase awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on children in South Africa
To provide feedback on implementation of policy and programmes to address impact of HIV/AIDS
To provide input into the development of relevant national policies and legislation
To identify gaps in existing policy and draft a strategy for addressing these gaps
To develop capacity and will of roleplayers at all levels to involve children in decision-making
To develop capacity of children and youth to engage in decision-making processes

Collaborators
Joint Monitoring Committee on Children, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (role)
Soul City (GAU)
Children’s Resource Centre (WC & EC)
Children’s Rights Centre (KZN)

18 Participating organisations including NGOs, CBOs, youth groups etc.

Funders
HIV/AIDS Directorate of the National Department of Health
Bernard van Leer Foundation, Holland

CHILD WORKSHOP FACILITATORS
Clacherty and Associates

Overview
Three components:
Pre-event media strategy and invitation to ALL children to contribute expressions of the impact of HIV on them
Three day event in CT culminating in a day with MPs and National Government officials *
Post event activities - towards meaningful change …
Feed into United Nation’s Special Session
Inform development of National policy etc.

Participants
Children
All children: Invited to submit written / recorded testimonials, art, poetry etc - to be included in the proceedings.
Advertised through Soul Buddyz, community radio stations, newspapers, NGO networks etc.
90 children between the ages of 7 and 18 years who are affected by HIV/AIDS will participate in the CT event.
Children part of youth groups / support groups / NGO or CBO programmes – 2 participating organisations per province (directory)

Protecting and supporting child participants
Children in support structures
Two months of preparation
Child friendly environment for event
Post event support and feedback
Media code of conduct
Spin off: Child participation manual

Adult participants
Portfolio and Select committees
Health, Social Development, Social Services
Joint monitoring committee on children, youth and people with disabilities, JMC on women
Education, Finance, Housing

Government
HIV/AIDS directorates
National Departments Health, Welfare, Housing, Public services, Education, Transport, Home affairs
Provincial and local government representatives
South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

PLANNING
Complete
Funding
Logo and slogan (children)
Audit of participating organisations

End June:
Identified and invited child participants
Invited adult participants
Confirmed venue and accommodation
Drafted programme
Started National Media Campaign

July to August:
Collect children’s materials from around SA
Confirm names of children and begin preparation
Confirm adult participants
Confirm children’s travel & entertainment
Finalise media code of conduct
Develop training manual for child participation
Finalise workshop programme

Draft programme
Tuesday 21August
Morning - Arrival and briefing of facilitators
Evening - Children arrive in Cape Town

Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23
Workshops – using art, orals, essays, poetry, drama
Evening site visits / cultural evening

Friday 24
Children to meet with decision-makers
Plenary presentations and small group discussions
Child interpreters and neutral facilitators

Possible additional activities:
Press conference
Site visits for decision-makers
NGO information sharing opportunities

ROLE OF THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE
Parliamentary liaison
Lend credibility to event
Advertise event in other Committees
Make commitment to attend
Prepare yourselves in terms of information
Commitment to truly hear and to act on what you have heard after the event – in Parliament and in your Constituencies