In August 2009 the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, led
the country's H1N1 flu
(swine flu) public awareness campaign.
He featured in an advertorial that appeared in national Sunday
newspapers, advising readers on ways to protect themselves and
others from airborne diseases.
Swine flu came late to South Africa, with the first cases being
reported among international travellers in mid-June. By mid-July,
although only 75 cases had been recorded, the mass media were
treating the subject as a national emergency.
National and provincial health departments reassured the public
that although this strain of flu was more virulent than ordinary
seasonal flu, the majority of cases were very mild and did not
require special treatment. Laboratory facilities and
health-facility preparedness were adequate.
However the epidemic continued to grow. By the end of August 2009
there had been 5,719 laboratory-confirmed cases and 27 deaths from
swine flu.
DFID, through HLSP, contributed to the public health campaign
featuring radio, television and newspaper ads.
Download the Minister's advertorial
[PDF 360KB].
Download the daily newspaper
advertorial [PDF780KB]
