YouSaid · the spoken record

Amathila

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20
first
2000-01-10
most recent
2000-01-10
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2
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un-security-council

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  1. “I think that we have to work very hard so that these vaccines will be affordable for our people. Lastly, I would like to reiterate that while we are trying to treat those who are infected - and we treat the opportunistic diseases and also the other sexually transmitted diseases - it is important that we continue with our education programmes. We are also targeting schools in order to stop the new infections, because we cannot do much about those who are already infected. I think the programmes must be strengthened in schools. We have asked our Ministries of Education to include HIV/AIDS as part of their school curricula. On behalf of my delegation and others, I thank you once again, Mr. President, for making it possible for this issue of HIV/AIDS finally to come to this Council, and it should not be the last time.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087Resumption1 (2000) · source

  2. “I think this is what we are requesting other Governments to do; but they should not think that African Governments are irresponsible and are not doing anything. That is not the issue. We are all working very hard on this question. Secondly, I would like to reiterate the need for vaccines. I would like to request the researchers, when they research the vaccines, to also include sub-group C, the group in our area in southern Africa. I think the vaccines that they are busy testing include only sub-groups A and B, if the information that we got in Lusaka in the last three months is correct. I want the vaccines; we are asking for these vaccines to be affordable to everybody, particularly to us in Africa. They should not be made so expensive, like the anti-viral drugs that we cannot afford.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087Resumption1 (2000) · source

  3. “I will certainly be very brief. I only have three points to make here. I do not want any impression to be created that the African Governments are sleeping on the problem. We have proven that the Governments have made serious, serious efforts in fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Of course, as we said, we cannot afford the medicines, but we are working very hard on prevention. Our communities are fully informed, and we are not sitting and waiting for other people to come and do the work for us. This is a question of partnership. HIV is not only an African problem; we, as partners, can really work together in order to fight AIDS as a nation, just as we would any infections that come our way, such as plague - just as we are fighting polio and as we fought smallpox.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087Resumption1 (2000) · source

  4. “I want to thank you for this specific and timely initiative you have taken in bringing to the forefront the impact of HIV/AIDS. I hope that this will now be a regular session at the Security Council. Let it not be the first and last time we meet on this issue, but let it be a yearly event so that we may all touch base.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  5. “With the provision of drugs, the quality of life of these affected people can be prolonged and enhanced. AIDS has lowered the average life expectancy levels in some of our countries by as much as 10 years. I would like to share with you a measure we have adopted in the field of prevention, namely the letters A-B- C. A means "Abstinence"; B stands for "Be faithful to one partner" and C means "use Condoms". This is how we are trying to change the behaviour of our communities. Let us hold hands together to fight the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. Finally, Mr. President, I cannot end without expressing my Government's deep thanks to you for your dedication to this cause. I did not see you when you were in Africa. The timing was bad because we were trying to hold our elections; but I was happy that you were there and I am pleased to meet you here.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  6. “Furthermore, drug companies have a moral responsibility in this pandemic. We therefore urge them to sell their drugs at subsidized prices to African Governments so we are not left to allow our people to die. As was correctly mentioned, we can at least prolong the life of a mother to make it possible for her to at least see her children through primary school. We therefore need to get these drugs in Africa. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death in our countries of southern Africa. Over 50 per cent of hospital beds are occupied by HIV/AIDS patients. Over 60 per cent of paediatric hospital beds are occupied by HIV/AIDS cases. HIV/AIDS in Africa can be prevented, and we have seen the results of our colleagues who started before us.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  7. “I would therefore recommend that World AIDS Day be commemorated in a more high-profile manner, consistent with the seriousness of the problem. For example, we would like to propose that activities on World AIDS Day at the United Nations be focused solely on raising awareness about the pandemic. A lot still remains to be done in raising awareness. In May this year, UNAIDS will convene a board meeting in Geneva. The International Partnership against AIDS in Africa is currently being formed, and the Partnership will be launched at that board meeting. Let me strongly echo the call made by the Secretary-General to the international community, "to formulate a response commensurate with the scale of the crisis, led by African Governments but with civil society, the private sector, the United Nations and donor Governments playing a full role".”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  8. “Namibia and South Africa are the only countries I know of in Africa that are giving universal grants to all pensioners, regardless of whether they have worked or not. But that pension is meagre and will not be enough to help old people look after orphans. We have therefore set up a fund for orphans and pensioners to help in this regard. African Governments are increasingly urged to invest more resources on HIV/AIDS. But where will these resources come from? Today, half of those infected are children between the ages of 15 and 24. Ninety per cent of those are in Africa, as can be seen from the table. What does this mean for Africa's future? Not many Governments can afford the drugs, and as a result, a difficult choice has to be made between prevention and treatment for those already infected.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  9. “I remember going to a village in the farthest corner of Namibia, where I met an old man of whom I asked: "Do you know anything about HIV/AIDS?" He said, "Yes, I have heard, and I keep on telling young people that they must use condoms; but, Doctor, I have not seen a condom myself". So I left him a condom, as I am sure he was neglected because of his age. I am sure that since then he has been going around with his condom to show the young men: "This is what I am talking about". Furthermore, the Namibian Government is in the process of establishing a fund for AIDS orphans and pensioners, which our President launched barely two months ago. This is to assist old people, who invariably have to look after the children of their own dead children.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  10. “The political commitment of African Governments to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS is quite visible. However, the lack of resources is a real constraint that needs to be addressed by the international community. Even in Namibia, where we allocate over 15 per cent of gross domestic product to health and social services, we have not made an impact on the treatment of HIV/AIDS. The cost of drugs to us is extremely prohibitive. I should mention, however, that as far as social mobilization, awareness and advocacy are concerned, we have made significant progress.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  11. “Piot said $150 million, but it does not make that much difference. We therefore call on the international community to make resources available and to subsidize drugs to African Governments. You will agree with me, Mr. President, that it is immoral that the worst-affected continent has the least access to the care and social and economic safety nets that might help families cope with the impact of this epidemic. Africa today has the least access to HIV drugs, but major access to arms. In countries marred by conflicts, Governments are forced by circumstances to channel their resources to the efforts to bring about peace, rather than to caring for the sick. And so thousands of infected persons die without any hope of the treatment that would prolong their lives.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  12. “Let me emphasize that the tragedy of AIDS in southern Africa warrants an emergency response from the international community. HIV/AIDS is a developmental, social and national security issue. African Governments have realized the multidimensional nature of HIV/AIDS and have therefore embarked on a programme of expanded response. This means that HIV/AIDS is everybody's business and no longer just the business of ministries of health and social services. However, those Governments cannot effectively combat HIV/AIDS due to a lack of resources and drugs. Currently, the resources available for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS are disproportionate to the problem. Estimates have it that out of the $2.5 billion needed in Africa each year, only $165 million is available - I think that Dr.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  13. “At the outset, I would like to salute the peacekeepers for the work they have done and are doing, often at the risk of losing their own lives. In this connection, it is important that the training of the military and police forces covers HIV/AIDS prevention and understanding of how to protect themselves. Peacekeepers, military observers and relief workers need to be well briefed on the implications of HIV-risk behaviour, through education on prevention. The means of protection must also be readily available to such people. In the demobilization of ex-combatants, in particular child soldiers, HIV/AIDS prevention issues need to be highlighted. The demobilization of child soldiers should include psychological counselling and HIV prevention.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  14. “While the issue of HIV/AIDS is not under the purview of the Security Council, the primary responsibility of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security will contribute in a major way to minimizing the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. By effectively addressing conflict situations in Africa, the Security Council will no doubt assist African Governments in devoting more resources to tackling social and economic problems. In this connection, we urge the arms-producing countries to cease providing arms to rebel movements in Africa. It is very important to bring conflict to an end in Africa so that peace and security can become a reality, giving a chance to the African Governments to pay attention to the priority issues of health and social development. Let me say a few words about peacekeeping.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  15. “Wherever there is a conflict, sexual violence is used as a weapon of war. Refugees, in particular women and girls fleeing from conflict situations, are at risk of being infected with the virus. It is estimated that 250,000 children between the ages of 7 and 18 years actively participate as child soldiers in armed conflict around the world, and many of them are sexually active. Of course it is not known how many are HIV-positive, but we can assume that a high percentage of them are positive. Let loose in the communities, they perpetrate sexual violence against their captives, thereby further increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  16. “A continent which is home to only 10 per cent of the world's population probably carries now over 70 per cent of the world's total HIV cases. The impact of the social and economic consequences of HIV/AIDS is being felt through the erosion of growth in gross domestic product, especially in the heavily affected countries. This is affecting the labour force, which in turn negatively affects the breadwinners and their families. As a result, the future of children in general, and HIV/AIDS orphans in particular, is compromised. We do not know whether such children will be able to continue with their schooling, because the breadwinners have died. Usually it is the father who dies first, followed shortly afterwards by the mother, and the children are left in the hands of their grandparents.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  17. “Due to the incapacity of Governments to effectively deal with the needs of those affected, the anger and frustration will continue to escalate. The social infrastructure, such as hospitals, cannot cope with the many cases coming in. Although it is known that there are drugs that can prolong and improve the quality of life, African Governments cannot afford them. Therefore, in our view, security needs to be visualized as part of a complex of issues affecting the manner in which we perceive and deal with socio- economic and political problems. It is in this context that we welcome today's meeting. More than 23 million people - whether the statistics indicate 21 million or 23 million is immaterial; we know that it is a huge number - are infected with HIV/AIDS in Africa today.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  18. “We call on your Government to take the lead in mobilizing the pharmaceutical industry to work with African Governments and the World Health Organization for more affordable access by Africa to life-saving and life-enhancing drugs for the treatment of AIDS. We thank the Secretary-General for his participation. His report on the work of the Organization (A/54/l), submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session, was very clear on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa and we encourage him to keep up his advocacy. Anything that is a threat to the social and economic development of Africa is, in turn, a threat to its political stability. As long as the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to grow, political stability and peace will be affected.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  19. “The Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the President of the World Bank have given us a detailed analysis of the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Thus, we view today's high-profile meeting not as an end in itself, but as a very important beginning of the focus on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. You have participated personally, Mr. President, in no small measure. That is testimony to your personal commitment and that of your Government to the cause of Africa. Your country has made significant national gains in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS and improving the quality of life of those already infected.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source

  20. “The most recent open event in the General Assembly took place on World Aids Day. Men, women and children from all walks of life came to pay tribute to those who have fallen victim to this scourge. Some told their own real-life stories and those of their families, and today, at the first meeting of the Security Council for this millennium, the plight of Africa and its fight against HIV/AIDS is being highlighted. I am pleased to note that on 13 January, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will address this Council on the inhuman conditions in which millions of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa are living. She will no doubt talk about, among other issues, the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girl refugees in particular.”

    2000-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4087 (2000) · source