Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Releasing some more anger - and oh-so-surprisingly its about our Dept. of Health

Well, I guess now that it's in the newspapers I can BITCH about this!!

State’s AIDS media drive grinds to a halt

Our dear sweet government, who continuously show their commitment to the AIDS epidemic that is affecting millions of South Africans, have not been able to get their butts into gear and ensure that Khomanani, the health department’s flagship HIV prevention campaign, keeps going.

For several months or more there will be no government HIV/AIDS Awareness across our country. And there is no reason good enough to explain why not. And considering the level of knowledge about the disease, as well as the demand by South Africans for information, help, facts and guidance, this is a sickening realisation.


Health department director-general Thami Mseleku said government wanted to see the results of an independent evaluation of Khomanani before issuing a new tender. ... “It has had achievements but if you work in government you have to look at overall value for money,” he said. ....Mseleku declined to explain why an assessment had not been completed earlier ....

Khomanani’s nine provincial offices will close on Friday; more than 1300 community volunteers will cease door-to-door campaigning at the end of next month; and provinces’ main source of literature on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, the Red Ribbon Resource Centre, will shut down."

Thank you, dear Department of Health, as always you make us proud and aware that you are ever concerned for your citizens' well being.

[Tomorrow I promise to post a more light-hearted blog. One can only be angry for so long until you become exhausted and have a headache.]

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

champs, am loving that someone under the age of 45 reads our newspaper!!! yay!!

Champagne Heathen said...

Ah, it's cause I am old...and wise...at heart! Am loving that you read my blog!

It's also cause you guys offer decent in-depth stories that are not sensational & not only localised.

Not that I always know what you guys are on about, but that's because me & economics/ business are mentally at war. I am desperately trying to track down a "Idiot's Guide to Ecos" to appease this conflict...!

Champagne Heathen said...

Shorty - I hope that my blogging gets a couple of people aware of their lack of action, who in turn spread such awareness and digust at such a reality. And yes, we need to start publically speaking up about how we feel about such a situation....so I'll be reading your letter in the papers soon?!

Champagne Heathen said...

ShortyP - in a way I am, I just get paid to do it and say that it's my career. Another way is to look at joining organisations like the TAC (Treatment Action Campaign) if it is HIV/AIDS Awareness you are interested in, or starting one's own, or writing to papers etc.