Motsoaledi: HIV/AIDS, TB are still the main causes of death in South Africa
South Africa comprises 7% of the world population but has 17% of the world's HIV/AIDS infections
Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, says HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis are still the main causes of death in South Africa. He said the country needs more health care professionals and more medical schools.
Motsoaledi was addressing students last night at the first annual Shaping Leaders in Health talk hosted by the Health Sciences Student Council of the University of Cape Town.
The health minister says South Africa comprises 7% of the world population but has 17% of the world's HIV/Aids infections. The life expectancy of South Africans has declined from 70-years in 1990 to only 50-years in 2010 because of the scourge. He says the pandemic remains a big challenge in the country.
“If we do not do something, by 2040 the life expectancy will be the same as it was in 1950. We would have gone back 50-years despite all the developments that have taken place,” Motsoaledi said.
SA has 17% of the world's HIV/Aids infections
He says the country faces a quadruple burden of disease. These are HIV/Aids, maternal, newborn and child mortality, violence and injury and non communicable disease. He says the latter is the one that needs to be addressed.
High blood pressure and diabetes are just some of the consequences of a lifestyle lacking in proper diet and exercise. He says alcohol abuse and smoking add to the problem. He confirmed that more will be done to eradicate smoking. Advertising alcohol could also be curtailed.
Commending Motsoaledi for being outspoken about the serious issues facing the health system, vice chancellor of UCT, Max Price, spoke briefly to the students about leadership. He said UCT has various programs in place to help foster leadership in students.
Price said good leadership requires good ideas set in good knowledge. Using the example of the nationalisation debate, Price said the idea should not be driven primarily as an ideology but should be a view that is properly researched, drawing upon experts that inform.
SABC News.com
