As South Africa commemorates Youth Day, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has reflected on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the advent of the pandemic on our shores, we have lost 123 fellow South Africans who were 39 years old or younger, with 29 of those under the age of 30. We pay special respect to these young lives today and extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of our fallen compatriots,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n
Tuesday marks Youth Day in South Africa – a day that pays tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative that we do not fall into despair as we combat Covid-19. We can never be complacent or found wanting. The Coronavirus has decimated some of the strongest health care systems and called on humanity to entirely reassess its way of living,\u201d the Minister said.<\/p>\n
Mkhize said Covid-19 has changed the way things are done and has forced humanity to choose between life or external trappings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is possible to fight back. Like the youth of 1976, it takes consciousness, discipline, co-operation and courage to turn the tide against this invisible enemy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can turn the tide against this enemy. As a country we can maintain control over the Coronavirus,\u201d Mkhize said.<\/p>\n
Minister launches Covid-19 initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n The minister was speaking during the official launch of the Multi-sectoral Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on Social Behavioural Change.<\/p>\n The MAC on Social Behavioural Change has been convened by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Social Development in the spirit of multi-sector collaboration.<\/p>\n \u201cWhilst the most urgent work of the MAC will be to facilitate diverse stakeholder cooperation in our Covid-19 response, the work naturally extends into the tenets of the Health Compact and ultimately the National Health Insurance in that it also facilitates action for fair access to quality health care and a long and healthy life for all South Africans,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n Mkhize said government is excited about this initiative and looks forward to gaining deeper insight into the desires and will of the South African people.<\/p>\n He said the initiative is an opportunity to find out how government can partner together with citizens.<\/p>\n \u201cCovid-19 has traversed across sectors of society \u2013 in some instances merely uncovering what was already broken, but in other cases, inspiring breakthroughs and innovation.<\/p>\n \u201cBut today, we are taking the fight outside the clinics, the hospitals and administrative buildings. This has to be a grassroots movement. The fight against Covid-19 is going to be won at home, in a church, in a taxi, on the streets, in a restaurant\u2026and in every part of our social lives.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not about whether there is a curfew or there is a policeman watching your movements. This is now about every South African taking the fight on,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n He said South Africa needs to build a new culture – at a ward and district level – so that everyone out there knows that there is one message on working together to fight this pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the time that we need to be more united as we move on. It\u2019s no longer going to be about what the government has said or done – it will be about how each individual responds,\u201d Mkhize said.<\/p>\n
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