Cabinet asks Hogan to craft swine flu campaign

At what was likely to be its very last meeting before a new set of ministers take over, President Kgalema Motlanthe’s Cabinet asked Health Minister Barbara Hogan on Wednesday to develop a campaign to educate South Africans about swine flu, which is threatening a global pandemic.

She was also asked to educate the public about the precautionary measures that need to be taken should the flu reach our shores.

Themba Maseko, the Cabinet spokesperson said: “The key message from Cabinet is that there is no need for anyone to panic.”

The meeting ended with a round of self-congratulation for the ministers. Maseko said that the president conveyed his appreciation to members of the Cabinet and the Cabinet secretariat for their support during his tenure, and Cabinet in turn thanked the president and the deputy president Baleka Mbete “for the outstanding leadership they have given the country, government in general and Cabinet in particular”.—I-Net Bridge