Speech by the MEC for Health and Social Development in Limpopo Mr Seaparo Sekoati on the Occasion of STIs Week

Date: 13 February 2007
Venue: Capricorn

Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Capricorn District:
Mayor of:
Concilours from the Local Municipalities
District Manager
Government officials present
Ladies and Gentlemen

The government is delighted to be running this programme partnership with communities. It is in the interest of government, every citizen of the country to have a society that is free from Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV and AIDS. Let us therefore STOP STIs and “Keep the Promise”. As government we have been in the process of pushing the frontiers of poverty since 1994 and the fight against HIV and AIDS and STIs cannot be divorced from this struggle.

Let us all take responsibility of our own sexual health and wellness through early detection and treatment of STIs. This is the message the department of Health and Social Development is bringing to all the districts. In the previous years we held one provincial event and this year we have decided to stage events in all districts with the aim of reaching as many people as possible. We hope that in future we will have this kind of events in all municipalities in the province.

For those who might not be aware, STIs or Sexual Transmitted Infections are infections caused by micro-organisms that are passed from one person to another during sexual intercourse. We are all involved in this kind of activity and it is therefore vital for all of us to have open discussions about STIs in public gatherings, be it in schools, churches, kgorong, in building societies, funerals etc. These kind of engagement will assist those who are infected but in afraid to come out. We need to stop stigmatizing the disease by publicly speaking about the symptoms and management of STIs including HIV.

Once a person suspect that he or she has been infected by STIs, go to your nearest clinic or consult your doctor. If it is confirmed that you are infected with STIs, get treatment and immediately notify your partner or whoever you have had sexual intercourse in the last 8 weeks, so that they get treated even if they might not be infected. By so doing you would have acted and conducted yourself in a very responsible manner. By so doing you could have helped minimize the complications that could have been caused by STIs if not treated and you could have helped in interrupting the transmission of STIs.

When notifying our partner at the early stages of the infection, it could also help infected people to receive counseling so that we reduce the risky sexual behaviours. Be cautious when notifying your partners, act carefully and responsibly in a way that it does not alienate your partner. We should avoid starting by accusing them because they might want to deny having been infected.

To our health care professionals, we must at all times remember to respect the human rights and dignity of people infected with STIs and their partners. We need to treat and manage STIs and HIV and AIDS in the context of Primary Health Care. The principles of Batho Pele apply to people infected with STIs. The process of treatment and notification should be confidential.

Let us continue with our commitment to champion the struggle to help change the behaviour of people in our communities. We have made achievements since the beginning of this programme and we should continue working in partnership with communities. Our approach remains that of building a constructive partnership between the communities at risk, the health care providers and government agencies.

The month of February is also regarded as the Reproductive Month, in celebrating this precious gift from God; we should avoid acting recklessly by neglecting our sexual health. Each year on the 14 February we also celebrate Valentine’s Day and this year we call of you to commit yourselves to the prevention of STIs whilst celebrating this day. With the consistent use of condoms we can prevent STIs including HIV and unwanted pregnancies. Condoms, including female condoms are available at all our health care centres.

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