Pretoria - The 21st International AIDS Conference, which is underway in Durban, has started with powerful calls on all sectors of society around the globe to intensify the pursuit of an AIDS-free world.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is leading the South African delegation, addressed the official opening press conference attended by high profile panelists, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and AIDS activist Charlize Theron.
The Deputy President also met with Ban, who commended South Africa for its progress in the fight against AIDS, particularly in giving access to treatment to people affected by HIV. However, he also stressed that much remains to be done at the global level to ensure the ending of the epidemic by 2030.
Deputy President Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for the support lent by the UN in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa and globally. He also received a petition from Treatment4All during a march organised by the civil society group.
In his remarks, the Deputy President reiterated South Africa's appreciation for the role played by the UN Secretary-General in advancing the fight against HIV, AIDS and TB.
On the partnership between government and civil society, Deputy President Ramaphosa said: “We are all on the same side. We are not against each other. We must never be against each other. We should be pulling in the same direction.
“Each one of us must help every one of us. We should stop throwing stones. We must start throwing ideas to make sure that people living with HIV are taken care of and that we stop further infections.”
The Deputy President urged communities to sustain activism and committed that government would support community-driven campaigns.
A session, which focused on preventing children being born with HIV in South Africa, was hosted by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. In the session, the Health Minister announced the launch of South Africa’s last mile for the Elimination of Mother-to-child Transmission (EMTCT). This, Minister Motsoaledi said, signifies a phase of accelerated efforts towards an AIDS-free generation in the country.
South Africa has been commended for its success in reducing its mother-to-child infection rate from 8% in 2008 to 1.5% in 2015.
The country currently provides 3.4 million HIV positive people with antiretroviral treatment.
The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) also hosted a satellite session on the National Sex Workers’ HIV Plan 2016-2019, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.
The session unpacked the plan, which aims to deliver a comprehensive range of services to sex workers, including the provision of condoms, regular testing for HIV/AIDS and TB, psychosocial services and strengthening representative sex worker organisations.
Sex workers raised concerns about the slow rate of progress in decriminalising sex work.
Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister John Jeffery outlined the legal position of the country on sex work and said government continues to engage on the topic. - SAnews.gov.za
