As the South African National AIDS Council Civil Society Forum (SANAC CSF) we welcome his announcement, made last night to move the country to an adjusted level 3, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But we need more answers and last night’s address should have been the perfect platform to show his efforts for integrated approach, transparency and accountability.
When the country initially went under lockdown during level 5, this was the time for the government to set up infrastructure to handle Covid cases, as we surge into the expected second wave.
What government needs to answer us on, is how much was spent on hospital infrastructure? Where is the infrastructure now that we have reached the peak of the second wave and what has been done to support and equip healthcare workers?
President Ramaphosa needs to tighten the belt on rampant looting by government and systemic bleeding of the healthcare system.
On the key factors to the rising numbers we see, is the need for reassurance and prevention and a behavioural science approach is needed – beyond the “people spread the virus when they don’t wear masks and don’t socially distance”.
The National Command Council on COVID-19 mode of updating and explaining the regulations needs a complete overhaul. It is simply not appealing and interesting, particularly to young people and communities with very little or no access to various mediums. Communities continue to be vulnerable and challenged by many social ills that should never be ignored and are now controlled by a threat of criminalization.
A realistic community engagement plan and mobilisation strategy needs to come into effect urgently and this is why the government, together with various civil society formations, must work rapidly in formulating tailored messages for an effective response to inform behaviour change. SANAC CSF have warned the government before about linking efforts to community systems and subsequently called on the government for an integrated approach.
Furthermore, CSF calls on the government to understand community dynamics to be able to communicate with the right people, at the right time, using the right message and the right channels. This is why local government alongside communities must be at the centre of our Covid-19 response. Put people first.
Aside from the non-pharmaceutical preventative methods, President Ramaphosa must take us into his confidence, after committing for equitable access to the vaccine via COVAX – the global effort to coordinate production and distribution in the second quarter of 2021and yet to date we have not seen any details around bi-laterals with pharmaceutical companies and a national deployment plan in administering the ethical roll out approach.
“Resources continue to be spent on clinical elements representing a pressure of response rather than a prevention approach. Key to prevention is mass education and communication. South Africa should consider the lessons learned in the HIV and TB response. Covid-19 should not be dealt with as a response approach reacting to the aftermath but a much needed prevention approach building resilience amongst community members,” said Steve Letsike, SANAC Co-Chairperson.
Letsike added that the multiple pandemics South Africa has requires a “scaled up approach on the prevention, response, human rights based, targeted interventions particularly on key vulnerable populations and political will that is transparent and accountable in using resources where it matters the most.”
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