Thank you for the invitation to speak today at this important event, which commemorates a hopeful time in the history of South Africa and a remarkable partnership involving our two countries.  As many of you know, this is my first visit back to South Africa since I completed my short, but much enjoyed time, as U.S. Ambassador during 2004 and 2005.  It is a special pleasure to visit a place where despair is being replaced by hope and where the challenge of HIV and AIDS is being met by dedicated, competent health professionals who are saving lives – setting an example for the entire nation. 

It is also a real pleasure to be here at the Helen Joseph Hospital.  As you all know, Helen Joseph founded the Federation of South African Women and was a symbol of defiance, integrity and courage for forty years of struggle against apartheid.  It is so appropriate that a hospital which formerly provided care primarily to only one part of society now is open to all.  And it is inspirational that in this hospital, Helen Joseph’s courage is now manifesting in the staff of the Temba Lethu clinic and in the determination of its patients.  It takes courage to come forward to be tested for HIV and determination to follow-through with the only known effective AIDS treatment - the daily use of anti-retroviral therapy.  Truly, if she were alive today, Helen Joseph would be very proud of what is being commemorated here.  The United States is fortunate to be a partner in this effort and we are honoured to have played a small role in the establishment of this life-saving program.

During my year as Ambassador in South Africa, I heard many times about the partnership formed by the Department of Health, Right To Care and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, to assure effective AIDS treatment reached the people of Johannesburg as quickly as possible.  Now that I see this partnership in action, and the clinic it has produced, I understand why this clinic is among the most outstanding HIV/AIDS care facilities in the country. 

While our contribution of resources is important, we fully understand that the most essential contributions in this effort are provided by the Government of South Africa, the Gauteng Department of Health and the medical community, as represented by Right To Care.  As we celebrate your first very successful year of antiretroviral treatment at the Temba Lethu clinic, we recognize that this year of accomplishment builds on a 15-year history of HIV/AIDS service to the community and on the efforts of some very hard-working individuals.  These individuals include: Dr. Dennis Rubel and Sister Sue Roberts – the clinical director and nursing manager of the clinic; Dr. Ian Sanni, the visionary leader of Right To Care, the clinic pharmacists and social workers who have worked tirelessly, the community AIDS response team and all their volunteers who support patients every day, and the many other members of the dedicated Themba Lethu care provider team.  Without your support we know this year of success would not have been possible.  We also know that without the support of the hospital administrators and Dr. Gwen Ramagopa (Rama-ko-pa), and her colleagues in the Department of Health, your efforts would have been much more difficult.  By working together you all are saving South African women, children and men - the rest of the world is inspired by your success.

And just what is this success?  Building on a program of HIV and AIDS care, Helen Joseph Hospital was well positioned to become one of the first accredited facilities to provide ARV therapy following the National Cabinet’s decision to begin AIDS treatment in public health facilities.  At the same time, the United States Emergency Plan was able to provide resources through Right To Care to help the hospital renovate and equip a specialized HIV/AIDS clinic and to implement an ARV treatment program.  Remarkably, with the unwavering support of the Department of Health, all this was accomplished in record time so that by the middle of 2004 patients already were being enrolled in ARV-based AIDS treatment protocols.  I understand that the Zulu name Themba Lethu was chosen by the patients and staff of the clinic because it means “our hope for the future”.  In truth, it is the patients and the staff, even more than the clinic, that are our “hope for the future” and we are here today to sing your praises for what you have accomplished.   

Themba Lethu also is remarkable because it integrates HIV treatment, care and support in an academic hospital that closely links implementation and treatment research. The partnership formed between the Department of Health, the University of the Witwatersrand, and Right-To-Care, using Emergency Plan support, has made this clinic a “centre of excellence” for AIDS care, treatment, and research.  This excellence is manifest in the fact that over 3700 patients have started antiretroviral therapy since April 2004.  In recent weeks, the clinic has been able to provide ARV therapy to an additional 100 patients each week.  Clinic staff currently follows over 6000 patients with HIV to monitor their condition and provide treatment when needed.  At the same time, the clinic staff counsels and tests up to 600 people each month.  This would be a remarkable record of achievement in any setting but in a resource-limited public health clinic, it is nothing short of miraculous…and, I understand, the clinic still feels it can do more.  Let me assure you, that as you do more we will continue to help as long as our help is needed.

Our commitment, through our partnership with Right To Care and the Government of South Africa, is to continue to train health care workers, to provide education and counselling for patients, to supply doctors, nurses and counsellors, and to support specialised laboratory testing.  Nationally, we are working with the Department of Health and with Right To Care to initiate and/or scale up another 13 national roll-out sites in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape Provinces. Through this direct support Right To Care plans to assist the government to initiate a further 9,500 patients on treatment in the next year and 12,000 patients in 2007.
 

Of the 3,700 people on treatment at Themba Lethu today, over 2,300 of them are celebrating more than one year on successful therapy.  This ceremony is really for them and their families.  It is recognition of the birthdays, marriages, graduations, work achievements, and family dinners they have enjoyed together during this year – personal events made possible by the work of Themba Lethu. 

Often, now that I am back in Washington, I am asked about South Africa and its future.  Often the questions include what is being done to address AIDS.  Today, I think we all see why my answer is that much is being done and South Africa has a bright future.  The partnerships envisioned in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief are producing real results in South Africa.  Together we are saving lives because health care providers, public health institutions, the South African Government at all levels, and most importantly those infected with HIV are coming forward to take courageous, dedicated action - just as Helen Joseph did during the apartheid years.  I am inspired by what you are accomplishing.  And, on behalf of the people of the United States, I thank you for this celebration of hope. 

Happy Birthday, Themba Lethu and Viva Themba Lethu!!!

For further information, please contact Reverie Zurba at (012) 452 2000