Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Friday, 1 December 2023, lead the official commemoration of World AIDS Day and launch of the South African Chapter of the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children.
According to the Deputy President’s office, the country’s second-in-charge will address the World AIDS Day event in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).
The event is scheduled to take place at Ngcedomhlophe Sports Field in the Mandeni Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
World AIDS Day is commemorated annually across the globe in solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV and to raise awareness about the status of the epidemic, to encourage HIV prevention, treatment and care.
The 2023 commemorations will focus on investing in and strengthening community-led interventions and community-centred approaches in the management of HIV.
“It further highlights the importance of greater involvement of civil society in strengthening accountability and empowering communities to be at the forefront of strategic interventions against stigma, discrimination and human rights violations of people affected and infected with HIV.”
South Africa, the Presidency said, joins the rest of the world in shining the light on the experiences of people living with HIV today, while celebrating the strength, resilience and diversity of the communities most affected.
Deputy President Mashatile will lead the commemoration event alongside the SANAC Civil Society Chairperson Steve Letsike, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and various sector leaders.
The event will be attended by members of the surrounding communities as well as representatives from development partners such as the United Nations agencies, the United States government, research entities, civil society movements and the private sector. – SAnews.gov.za
