Minorities have to be brought on board to fight HIV and Aids- Premier Modise

 Every effort has to be made to ensure that theNorth West Provincial Council on Aids (PCA) is inclusive of minorities for it to be representative of the entire North West populace because the HIV and Aids pandemic is not a black affair, it cuts across all classes and race and gender, North West Premier Thandi Modise said during the recent inaugural meeting of the council held in Mahikeng.Premier Modise said that the success of the newly constituted PCA will depend on how it manages contradictions, differences and interests of the diverse constituencies represented within the councils.

“The new council has to create and strengthen partnerships for an expanded North West province response among government agencies, non-governmental organisations, donors and people living with HIV and Aids. Functional structures will intensify the fight against this pandemic and we want the council to do its best and lead, not follow” Modise said. 

Modiseappealed to members of council to work through consensus and to put the people of the province first and to be loyal to them irrespective of their political affiliation.

She urged them to prioritise filling of vacant posts of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an induction workshop and to strive for compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and all requirements of their founding legislation and audit requirements.  

Former Chairperson of the outgone council, Rev Piet Tlhabanyane in his handover  presentation report urged the 26-member council that comprises people from religious groups, political parties, civic organisations and people living with HIV and Aids to identify champions who will be able to assist them to get the message across to the vulnerable age groups and to familiarise themselves with relevant legislation, policies and prescripts in order for them to make a meaningful impact and advise government on HIV and Aids.In wishing the council well in executing its functions and thanking Rev. Tlhabanyane for his sterling contribution, Premier Modise announced the appointment of Dr. Danisile Gcinumkhonto, a Mahikeng based medical doctor nominated by the private medical sector to serve on the council as the interim chairperson.

Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi says South Africa will have to win their two away matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying games if they are to realise their cherished dream of going to Brazil.

Bafana play back-to-back away matches against Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia in June; matches that are likely to determine their ultimate destination in their quest for a place in the 2014 World Cup scheduled for the gigantic Latin American country. South Africa will then host Botswana in the last WC qualifier in September.

“There is no doubt, the away matches will be difficult but we have no choice but give everything and hopefully get favourable results. We can win there; we have proved what we are capable of. We just have to maintain the same attitude we showed in the last match against CAR and results will take care of themselves. 

“When we play away, we need to be more disciplined with our tactics and not lose shape. We have to ensure we don’t concede first as it could prove difficult to come back. Therefore, it is imperative that we score an early goal to calm the nerves down,” said Dikgacoi from England.

The hard tackling midfielder said Bafana had no choice about which result to get in their next two matches.

“If we want to go to Brazil, we have to win the two away matches,” he said adding that even the home game against neighbours Botswana was not a foregone conclusion.

“They proved they can be a hard nut to crack in our match against them away. They are definitely no pushovers.”

Dikgacoi said it would be ideal that by the time Bafana play Botswana in the last game, qualification to Brazil should almost have been determined.

At club level, the Crystal Palace hardman is also involved in another battle for promotion struggle to the English Premiership.

Palace is fourth on the table, a play-off position having relinquished top position in the past few weeks in which they have somehow gone off the boil.

“We have been dropping crucial points but we are still in a good place for play-offs. We are left with five matches – three away and two at home – and if we can win at least two of them, we are still in with a chance,” said Dikgacoi.

“We are playing Ipswich on Tuesday (16 April 2013) away – having beaten them 5-0 in the first round, there are no guarantees of another win because the last matches of the season are often very difficult with teams fighting relegation others fighting for promotion. So we have a tough time ahead of us but we are confident of doing well.”

The North West Provincial Government has committed to partnership with the Moses Mauane Kotane (MMK) Foundation to advance unity through social transformation especially for the rural poor. This follows a meeting between Premier Thandi Modise and the MMK foundation held in Mahikeng on Monday.

“Collaboration in housing,health. education, skills development, job creation ,Rural Development and Poverty alleviation have been identified as areas to advance the 

 legacy of Moses Maune Kotane who was a unifier and selfless leader ”said Premier Modise.

Modise said that communities in rural settings with high unemployment, high HIV and Tuberculosis prevalence, limited access to quality primary health care services and potential heritage and rural tourism sites stand to benefit from the partnership.

The foundation has links with the Moses Kotane Institute and has completed the first phase of the Moses Kotane Monument House in Pella village near Swartruggens developed as a workers monument and training centre.

The partnership is aimed at supporting three pillars of the all-encompassing comprehensive rural development programme aimed at creating social cohesion and development in rural areas. The strategy is premised on land reform, agrarian transformation and rural development.

With teams slowly starting to get into the swing of things in the Inland Provinces, week six of the Sasol League produced some exciting results as teams seek to get a spot in the prestigious national championships. 

Once again there was a flurry of goals as a total of 95 goals were scored in the 20 games that were played over the weekend. While it is still early stages of the tournament, teams are making their intension clear that they are going to challenge defending champions Palace Super Falcons for the title.

The match between Kanatla Ladies and Development was a one-sided affair as the former fired 10 goals past an out-of-sorts Development. With that emphatic result, Kanatla showed they would be a force to reckon with this season.

With the likes of UJ, Tuks, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows and Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng Province will be the most competitive of all provinces taking part in the league. 

The clash between Sundowns and Swallows was a seven-goal thriller with the team from Pretoria winning 5-2 against the ladies from Dube who despite the scoreline, showed resilience and fighting spirit. 

Croesus Ladies also showed they are not a team to be taken lightly this season when they massacred Katlehong Eagles 11-0 in one of the highest scoring matches this season. 

Unfortunately, one of the most anticipated matches of the weekend between defending champions Palace Super Falcon and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) failed to take place after the latter arrived late and thereby forfeited the points to the defending champions.

Some of the results from the weekend were as follows:

Croesus Ladies 11           Katlehong Eagles 0

Kantla Ladies 10               Development 0

Mamelodi Sundowns 5      Moroka Swallows 2

Golden Ladies 8               The Bold & Beautiful 1

This weekend will see the Coastal Provinces’ two streams play their first games of the 2013 season. 

By Obakeng Maje

NORTH WEST READY TO ROLLOUT NEW FIXED DOSE COMBINATION PILL TO HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS.

About 315 health facilities in the North West Province are ready to roll out the new Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) pill to HIV positive patients. 

The new pill, which is a combination of all three antiretroviral pills (emtricitabine, efavirenz and tenofovir), will be administered to all newly diagnosed patients that are eligible to be put on ARV treatment, pregnant women and HIV positive breastfeeding mothers North West department said.    

“A significant number of clinical health professionals in the province have already been trained on FDC in preparation of the rollout of the new pill to eligible groups” said Health department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane.

He said those currently receiving ARV treatment will be switched to a new pill at a later stage. “Priority will be given to all stable patients and non complicated patients after consultation with their clinicians” he said.

“The pill is easy to take, highly effective with fewer or no side effects and in no way inferior to taking three individual drugs”

Health MEC, Dr. Magome Masike is confident that health officials will execute the rollout with due diligence and communicate the rollout to those currently receiving treatment.

“The introduction of fixed dose combination pill will definitely improve adherence to treatment and reduce the risk of patients defaulting treatment.” Dr. Masike said.

The province is currently providing antiretroviral treatment to about 181 557 patients.

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The North West Provincial Government has committed to partnership with the Moses Mauane Kotane (MMK) Foundation to advance unity through social transformation especially for the rural poor. This follows a meeting between Premier Thandi Modise and the MMK foundation held in Mahikeng on Monday.

“Collaboration in housing,health. education, skills development, job creation ,Rural Development and Poverty alleviation have been identified as areas to advance the 

 legacy of Moses Maune Kotane who was a unifier and selfless leader ”said Premier Modise.

Modise said that communities in rural settings with high unemployment, high HIV and Tuberculosis prevalence, limited access to quality primary health care services and potential heritage and rural tourism sites stand to benefit from the partnership.

The foundation has links with the Moses Kotane Institute and has completed the first phase of the Moses Kotane Monument House in Pella village near Swartruggens developed as a workers monument and training centre.

The partnership is aimed at supporting three pillars of the all-encompassing comprehensive rural development programme aimed at creating social cohesion and development in rural areas. The strategy is premised on land reform, agrarian transformation and rural development.

All South African soldiers deployed to the Central African Republic have been withdrawn, the SA National Defence Force said on Tuesday.

“All the SANDF personnel who were still in the CAR have been withdrawn and are back home safe and are receiving all the professional support they require,” Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said in a statement.

“Regarding the allegations by foreign reporters about the number of casualties suffered by the SANDF: the SANDF would like to assure all South Africans that there are no bodies or personnel of the SANDF that cannot be declared.”

For more http://www.timelive.co.za

All South African soldiers deployed to the Central African Republic have been withdrawn, the SA National Defence Force said on Tuesday.

“All the SANDF personnel who were still in the CAR have been withdrawn and are back home safe and are receiving all the professional support they require,” Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said in a statement.

“Regarding the allegations by foreign reporters about the number of casualties suffered by the SANDF: the SANDF would like to assure all South Africans that there are no bodies or personnel of the SANDF that cannot be declared.”

For more http://www.timelive.co.za