Msukaligwa Local Municipality 2008/09 - Co-operative Governance ...

increase to around 2 million by 2010, Life expectancy in South Africa (the number of years the average person will live) is expected to go down from ahigh of around 60 years in 1994 to just over 40 years in 2005. Most of the people who are dying from AIDS are women between the ages of 18 and 40and men between the ages of 30 and 50. This means that the most vulnerable groups are women of child rearing and economically active age andmen in their economically productive years. This has severe-implications for our economy and our society as a whole.4. The response of African municipalitiesAn alliance of mayors and municipal leaders in Africa together with the United Nations Development Programme has developed an African Mayors’ initiative forCommunity Action on Aids at the Local Level; (AMICMLL) South Africa is one of 17 countries that have adopted a declaration in Abidjan in 1997 to develop aresponse by municipal leaders to HIV/Aids. The declaration recognises that municipalities and councillors are closest to the people and are responsible foraddressing local problems. It states that local government mayors and councillors have a vital role to play to do the following:• provide strong political leadership on the issue• create an openness to address issues such as stigma and discrimination• co-ordinate and bring together community centred multi-sector actions• create effective partnerships between government and civil societySALGA will provide support to Implement AMILCAALL resolutions in South Africa.South Africa has also established National AIDS Council and each province has Provincial AIDS Council to help provide support and co-ordination of Aidsinitiatives. In many provinces, District AIDS Councils are now being set up. At a local municipal level AIDS Forums or Councils, ‘do exist in some areas. Eachmunicipality what option best suits them and aim to achieve the following:• bring together the key stakeholder in civil society and local government• ensure that there is a coherent HIV strategy in place for the area• provide some cohesive structure to help co-ordinate the delivery of services to those most affected• avoid duplication• mobilise volunteers to provide carePART B: PRESENT SITUATION IN MSUKALIGWA AND FUTURE IMPACT1. StatisticsThe local task team that prepared for the strategic workshop compiled and presented the following statistics:An impact of HIV on hospital services was conducted in 1999, in this survey Ermelo Hospital was compared to Temba and Witbank hospitals during theperiod 16 January to 28 February 1999. 512 patients were admitted in the 3 above-mentioned hospitals, 47% of who were female. Ermelo Hospitaladmitted 144 (28%), Thembal87 (37%) and Witbank 181 (35%). 267 of these patients were not tested, including 187 from Temba hospital. Ermelo Hospitaltested 140 while. Witbank tested IDE. The results were as follows: Ermelo 41% while Witbank had 27% (See attached survey).Thusiville, ext I and 2 and New Ermelo are the worst hit wards in Msukaligwa.When one considers the length of time in which the survey was conducted, covering only one month and 12 days, it is hard not to assume that the picture inMsukaligwa does not look too good. The task team in their questionnaire estimates that the known cases of the people living with AIDS are 1200 and ofMsukaligwa Municipality: Integrated Development Plan 2007/2012 314