Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on Tuesday met with the new South African National Aids Council (SANAC) Trust to induct the members of the trust in their new roles.
The trust, which includes members from civil society, business, academia and government, was born out of a 2012 review of the Governance and Accountability Framework of SANAC and upon the expiring of the term of the old board.
Their mandate, according to the Presidency, is to facilitate and manage a multi-sectoral approach of the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP).
The goals of the NSP are to halve the number of new HIV infections; ensure that at least 80% of people who are eligible for treatment for HIV are receiving it; halve the number of new TB infections and deaths from TB; ensure that the rights of people living with HIV are protected, and reduce the stigma related to HIV and TB.
“The work that the council will undertake is crucial at a time when South Africa has turned the tide on the response to HIV and yet still has a long way to go in addressing the scourge of HIV and Aids and I wish them well,” said Motlanthe.
The trust has its work cut out already. According to a statement issued after their first meeting, the immediate deliverables of the new Trust will be to improve structures from national to local government; and intensify a multi-pronged communication strategy targeting various groups, especially youth, sex workers and miners who have been identified by the NSP as requiring prevention measures.
The new members of the trust, which is chaired by Justice Zak Yacoob, are Yusuf Abramjee, Brian Brink, Desmond Lambrechts, Ayanda Ntsaluba, Happy Ntshingila, Thoko Majokweni, Nothhemba Simelela, Steve Letsike, Prudence Mabele and Thobile Mbengashe. – SAnews.gov.za
