Minister
Essop Pahad
Address: Social Sector Cluster presentation, Monitoring and Evaluation media briefing
30 August 2007
Please accept apologies from the co-chairs of the Social Cluster who are currently out of the country and therefore are unable to present this report today. The Minister of Health is attending the World Health Organisation's Afro regional meeting in Brazzaville, Congo while the Minister of Social Development is attending the African Union (AU) conference in Barbados.
Comprehensive Social Security
Earlier this month, Cabinet approved a harmonised assessment tool for grants and free health care for people with disabilities. The tool will be implemented in a phased approach and will involve disability associations.
Work is underway in defining what would constitute vulnerability of children older than 14 years including the assessment of gaps in services to these children. Policy proposals are being made to address these gaps also taking into consideration the recommendations of the recently held Symposium on Tackling Child Poverty.
Anti-poverty Campaign
The review of the current state of poverty in South Africa is expected to be completed by March 2008 while the Anti-Poverty Framework is currently being developed.
Ward based actions are being initiated to verify indigent registers and the current package of support provided to identified families. Indigent households are being registered with the Expanded Public Works Programme and municipalities to work on projects for a guaranteed number of days per year. Families are also being organised into community development trusts to undertake sustainable livelihood projects and this is being piloted in Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP) nodes in order to address rural poverty challenges.
Efforts are being made to strengthen the National Health Information System by training and appointing 2 300 unemployed matriculants to improve the comprehensiveness and quality of health information.
The number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) funded for supporting the implementation of health programmes including the response to HIV, AIDS and TB will be increased.
Several projects have been established as part of Household Food Production Programme to improve the food security amongst the most food insecure and vulnerable communities.
More than R1,9 million was disbursed to 89 farmers between April and June 2007 as part of the farmer support programme. Repayments received between April 2007 and June 2007 amounted to R1 395 078.
Early Childhood Development (ECD>)
Efforts are underway to improve the management of childhood illnesses, increase immunisation coverage in all districts and eliminate measles. Polio outbreak and importation preparedness is being strengthened.
At least 1 500 additional ECD sites were registered from April 2006 to March 2007. An additional 1 774 sites will be registered in the current year. 369 new sites have already been registered since April 2007. 314 912 children from poor households received subsidies from the Department of Social Development in the past financial year. An additional 435 000 are targeted to receive subsidies in the current financial year.
More than 4 000 ECD practitioners and support staff received stipends and training on ECD National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 1and 4. An additional 6 000 learners are targeted to receive training and stipends in the current year with over 1 200 of them already started with training.
Provision of Basic Services
An estimated 109 093 households were still using bucket systems in established/formal areas as at the end of June 2007. A total number of 30 368 buckets have been replaced in the current year from January 2007 to June 2007. From the current delivery progress, it is clear that the December 2007 bucket eradication target will be met as good momentum has been built in all spheres of government.
More than 17,3 million people benefited from improved water supply for the period up to March 2007 with 7,2 million people still requiring access.
Education
Progress is being made towards doubling the Maths and Science higher grade graduate output to 50 000 by 2008. The Department has appointed examiners to set common examination question papers in Mathematics and Physical Science to be written in November 2007 by Grade 10 learners in Dinaledi schools in the nine provinces. Grade 11 learners will write common examinations in Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and Languages and Physical Science at the end of 2007.
By June 2007, 50% of the allocation to each Further Education and Training (FET) College had been transferred to the respective colleges. The expenditure varies from college to college and the Department of Education is monitoring the expenditure and provides financial management support where necessary.
R439 million is being allocated over two financial years to increase the enrolment and output of engineering faculties. This allocation is expected to lead to an increase in enrolment of 1 800 students by 2010 and the production of 421 more graduates with a more significant increase starting from 2012.
Comprehensive health care
The programme to promote a healthy lifestyle continues including the promotion of safe sexual behaviour. The Department of Health is urgently responding to the challenge of condoms that were approved by an official of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) while not conforming to the required quality levels.
While at least 7 million condoms are a subject of the case of possible collusion between the supplier, Zalatex and the SABS official, the Department of Health is recalling all condoms that have been supplied by Zalatex since it was awarded a 9% stake in the tender to supply condoms. 4,5 million of the affected condoms had been collected by Tuesday, 28 August.
We appeal to all partners involved in the distribution of condoms and members of the public to assist in identifying these condoms with a lot number: 4308/ZLX and return them to the nearest health facility. Those who require more information or are concerned that they may have used the recalled condoms are encouraged to contact the AIDS Helpline for more information, education and counselling.
The number is: 0800 012 322.
On treatment, the cumulative total of patients who started antiretroviral (ARV) treatment is estimated at 300 000 as at the end of June 2007. A total of 342 facilities have been accredited to implement this treatment including 10 Correctional and 7 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Centres, and more sites are being accredited to further expand access. Lack of adequate health professionals still remains a key challenge to both the Departments of Health and Correctional Services in expanding the number of sites.
Efforts are underway to open nursing colleges at, amongst others, Dora Nginza Campus in the Eastern Cape, Bona Lesedi at Leratong Hospital and the Coronation Nursing College at the Chris Hani Baragwanath - Gauteng province. Three new campuses were established at Madadeni, Prince Mshiyeni and Port Shepstone for a four-year nursing diploma - KwaZulu-Natal province.
An amount of R105 million will be made available for the 2008/2009 financial year to accelerate the training of Family Social Workers at professional and auxiliary levels with at least 3 000 Social Auxiliary Workers being trained in the current year.
Conclusion
The report of the Social Cluster indicates that progress has been made in improving the social conditions of many people in South Africa. The Cluster has also identified some areas for future action and it will continue to intensify the implementation of all its priorities as outlined in the Government Programme of Action.
Delivered by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad on behalf of the Social Sector Cluster.
Issued by:
Government Communications (GCIS)
30 August 2007
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