Despite South Africa’s successes in combating HIV/AIDS the country still faces many challenges‚ Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says.
In a message ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1‚ Ramaphosa noted that the number of new HIV infections was still extremely high‚ particularly among young women and girls.
“We need to spread the word about prevention‚ encouraging all sexually-active South Africans to use condoms.
“We need to encourage people to test for HIV and TB.
“We need to ensure that all those who need treatment‚ receive treatment and that they remain on treatment‚” he said.
Saying the country’s theme for World AIDS Day was ‘Rise‚ act‚ protect’‚ Ramaphosa said it was essential to combat the stigma attached to the disease and to create an environment in which all could feel safe and comfortable to test and be treated.
“The end of HIV as a public health threat is in sight‚” he added.
He pointed out that South Africa had the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world‚ with more than three million people on life-saving antiretrovirals.
People were also living longer and fewer people were dying of AIDS and TB.
“Life expectancy has increased from 53 years in 2006 to just over 62 years in 2013. We have reduced mother-to-child transmission further‚” Rampahosa noted.
Number of new HIV infections still high: Rampahosa
Despite South Africa’s successes in combating HIV/AIDS the country still faces many challenges‚ Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says.
In a message ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1‚ Ramaphosa noted that the number of new HIV infections was still extremely high‚ particularly among young women and girls.
“We need to spread the word about prevention‚ encouraging all sexually-active South Africans to use condoms.
“We need to encourage people to test for HIV and TB.
“We need to ensure that all those who need treatment‚ receive treatment and that they remain on treatment‚” he said.
Saying the country’s theme for World AIDS Day was ‘Rise‚ act‚ protect’‚ Ramaphosa said it was essential to combat the stigma attached to the disease and to create an environment in which all could feel safe and comfortable to test and be treated.
“The end of HIV as a public health threat is in sight‚” he added.
He pointed out that South Africa had the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world‚ with more than three million people on life-saving antiretrovirals.
People were also living longer and fewer people were dying of AIDS and TB.
“Life expectancy has increased from 53 years in 2006 to just over 62 years in 2013. We have reduced mother-to-child transmission further‚” Rampahosa noted.
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