Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

Work around infrastructure investment, which formspart of the 20 townships urban renewal programme,presents another opportunity to further utilize EPWPas a key driver of short term job creation.A total of 352 609 person days of work have beengenerated across the province, resulting in 3 973job opportunities. EPWP created 35.5% of the totaljob opportunities and the labour intensive programme21.8%.As part of the EPWP programme, a pilot programmeon Waste Management was implementedin 2006/07 and will be rolled out as part of the20 townships project. Community based wastemanagement will also be utilized to contribute toservice delivery and sustainable job creation. Thisprogramme focuses on the rehabilitation of dumpingsites, recycling initiatives and the collection of wastein communities through community based wastemanagement.The GPG has also embarked on the CommunityHeritage programme, which entails the constructionof memorial sites of the liberation struggle in 2006.The programme includes opportunities for employmentand capacity building for veterans and unemployedgraduates. So far eight projects have beenimplemented.Between March 2005 and October 2006, close to14 000 EPWP jobs were created in public works,construction, agriculture and the environment and thesocial development sectors. Priority was given to theemployment of women, youth and people with disabilitiesand the transfer of skills.from sectors such as labour, business, civics, women,faith-based organizations, the media, cultural workers,people living with HIV and Aids and the youth.The GAC drives the broader partnership againstAids in the province.The following programmes for HIV prevention andcare have been implemented with success:• The prevention of mother to child transmission(PMTCT) programme has been implemented inall public hospitals and community health centresin Gauteng and 72% of clinics with maternityservices including antenatal care.• The distribution of condoms in the provinceincreased from approximately 8.5 million permonth in 2004/2005 to about 11 millionmale condoms in 50 primary sites and 781000 female condoms in 47 primary sites since2004/2005.• The number of Voluntary Counselling and Testing(VCT) sites increased from 295 in 2004/2005to 340 in 2005/2006. A total of 393 740clients were tested since 2004/2005, of whom137 200 tested HIV positive.• The programme for post-exposure-prophylaxis(PEP) for victims of sexual violence, implementedsince July 2002, is now available at 54 facilitiesacross the province.• Gauteng established 257 beds in step-downfacilities in nine hospitals and funds 250 hospicebeds, as well as 132 NGO’s to providehome based care. The number of patients caredfor at home by community health workers hasincreased from 51 994 in 2004/2005 to 53347 in 2005/2006.• The Gauteng government funds 38 NGO’s toHIV/ AidsA key challenge for the GPG in 2004 was tointensify the implementation of a comprehensive HIVand AIDS programme that would, amongst others,include the expanded implementation of an HIV andAIDS care and treatment programme in partnershipwith civil society and the private sector.Provision for other services for people infected andaffected by HIV and Aids was also made, includingthe provision of shelter for people in ill-health andsupport for those who are unable to work.The Gauteng government has a well established,multi-sectoral and interdepartmental AIDS programmewhich is implemented by all the government departmentsin the province. The provincial government’sprogramme is lead by the Premier’s Committee onAids, involving all MECs and heads of departments.The Premier also heads the Gauteng Aids Council(GAC), which consists of civil society representatives30 • Midterm Report - 2004/06