Bua Briefs 142
14 August 2009
- Fourth Annual 2010 National Communication Partnership (NCP) Conference, 17 August 2009, Sandton Convention Centre
- H1N1 Influenza
- Highlights
Fourth Annual 2010 National Communication Partnership (NCP) Conference, 17 August 2009, Sandton Convention Centre
The 2010 NCP provides a platform for communicators on the African continent, to share ideas on how to further enhance and escalate efforts by leveraging opportunities created by the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. A key objective of the NCP is to, among other things, build African unity and pride and to reposition Africa to the world.
All stakeholders of the 2010 partnership must continue to build on the progress that has been made to promote Africa within the context of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™
- The successful hosting of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup has dispelled negative perceptions at home and abroad about South Africa’s overall state of readiness for 2010.
- Communication initiatives will mobilise South Africans to be proud hosts in welcoming visitors with pride and showcasing our spirit of Ubuntu.
- The 2010 partners are implementing campaigns such as the “Diski Dance”, “Fly the Flag for Football” and “United for Bafana Bafana”. We encourage mass public participation towards the vision of creating a unique African 2010 World Cup.
- We must be proactive through our partnerships to sustain joint programmes and projects with communicators both at home and on the continent.
We will use the period ahead to leverage 2010 FIFA World Cup™ opportunities to benefit the African continent
- Communicators in government must heighten communication and use this prestigious tournament to strengthen Africa’s developmental agenda.
- Let us profile this tournament through inclusive and collaborative opportunities that will benefit the country and the continent.
We must work together with communicators and marketers from the continent to promote exciting tourist destinations in the region and the rest of Africa during and after the tournament
H1N1 Influenza
The Department of Health would like to reassure the public that measures are in place to deal with the outbreak of Pandemic H1N1 Influenza in the country. As part of its response, the department is working closely with the World Health Organisation, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, the Centre for Disease Control, civil society, private hospitals and doctors’ associations to manage this global pandemic.
The pandemic started in Mexico and the United States of America in April this year and rapidly spread to 166 countries globally with a cumulative number of 174 913 laboratory confirmed cases and 1 411 confirmed deaths.
The number of globally reported cases underestimates the real number of cases, given that countries are no longer required to test and report individual mild cases. However, if the above statistics are regarded as the status of the pandemic in the world, we can expect about seven deaths per 1 000 people who contract the virus. In South Africa, by 13 August 2009, we had 1 910 confirmed cases with three deaths.
So far, the vast majority of cases in South Africa have been mild and the unfortunate deaths should not be a cause for panic.
For health workers who have queries about H1NI1, the Department of Health has a partnership with the NICD, which operates a helpline. By Wednesday, 19 August 2009, the department will have a shared call number operational for members of the general public who have queries or concerns
Learners and students at universities and other institutions of higher learning should particularly be on alert for the development of symptoms. If they develop mild flu-like symptoms, they should stay at home and only return when they feel better.
The overwhelming majority of people have mild symptoms and will not need any specialised medical care. Such symptoms should be treated as is the case with other influenza-like symptoms.
Mild symptoms include runny or blocked nose, fever, muscle aches and pain, a general feeling of unwellness and cough.
However, if mild symptoms develop in people with chronic heart or lung disease, pregnant women or people living with HIV and AIDS, these people are advised to seek medical care immediately.
Moderate symptoms include mild symptoms plus shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent vomiting and diarrhoea and signs of dehydration.
Severe symptoms include mild and moderate symptoms plus signs of respiratory distress, blue lips and other parts of the body, severe drowsiness and loss of consciousness.
Anyone with moderate or severe symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.
Doctors who see individuals with flu-like symptoms should consider H1N1 as part of the differential diagnosis, even when there is no travel history, and treat moderate and severe cases, or those at high risk, early with anti-viral medication.
Highlights
- President Jacob Zuma unveils national job fund
Government is set to launch a national job fund to help employers and workers weather South Africa's recession. An estimated amount of R2,4 billion will fund this initiative, which is aimed at paying a training allowance to workers pegged at 50% of the basic wage.
- South Africa reaching to space to boost economy
South Africa is planning to invest in satellite and telescope projects to support the economy. South Africa is also bidding against Australia to host the 1,5-billion Euro Square Kilometre Array radio telescope.
- South Africa records second consecutive monthly trade surplus
The South African Revenue Service has confirmed that South Africa has recorded a second consecutive monthly trade surplus in June, with a R3,22- billion surplus after a R2-billion surplus in May. In May, South Africa's trade balance swung to its first monthly surplus in 29 months.
- South Africa launches guidelines for victim empowerment
Government has launched the National Policy Guidelines for Victim Empowerment for those involved in helping victims of violence, abuse and crime. The objective is to contribute to building safe and peaceful communities, strengthening the human rights culture and providing more effective responses to victims of crime and trauma.
- Information centres launched in Cape Town for 2010 visitors
South Africa has launched three visitor information centres in Nelson Mandela Bay in preparation for the 2010 World Cup. These centres will provide tourists with information on reservations, accommodation, tours, vehicle hire, entertainment, adventure experiences and travel tips.
- Cape Town gears up for 2010 World Cup Final Draw
Cape Town Mayor, Mr Dan Plato, and CEO of the 2010 Organising Committee, Dr Danny Jordaan, have signed the service level agreement for Cape Town to host the tournament's Final Draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 4 December 2009.
- More reservists to be integrated into the South African Police Service (SAPS) ahead of 2010
Government is planning to enlist the help of reservists during the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. The Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Fikile Mbalula, said the reservists would be integrated into the SAPS to beef up security, adding that the reservists have been called from various parts of the country to re-enforce the police contingent around host cities.
- World Cup will help South Africa recover from global economic crisis
KPMG, Nedbank’s chief economist, Mr Nicky Weimar, has confirmed that the 2010 FIFA World CupTM was likely to contribute significantly to South Africa's recovery following the global economic downturn. Economist in The Presidency, Mr Alan Hirsch, also noted that the South African economy was likely to move into positive territory later this year. He said the economy could see gross domestic product growth of 0,5% or 1%, compared with the first quarter of the year's negative growth of 6,4%.
- Public Relations Office hotline up in September
The Presidency’s hotline, which the public can use to report poor service delivery, is scheduled to be activated in September. The Presidency said the service would be toll-free from landlines and discussions were underway on whether calls from cellphones should also be toll-free. The initial cost was expected to be around R4 million a year, with 21 full-time staff employed to handle calls.
General
- Mandela Treason Trial memoirs displayed in the United States
Former President Nelson Mandela's papers and speeches during his 1960 Treason Trial have been displayed at one of the biggest legal firms in Washington. These include his hand-written notes during the Rivonia Trial.
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu honoured with the highest civilian award in the United States (US)
Archbishop Desmond Tutu received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 12 August for his contribution to world peace. It is a decoration bestowed by the President of the US and is the highest civilian award in that country.
