Durban - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again reiterated government’s commitment to provide life-saving HIV treatment to all those who need it.
Currently, South Africa provides 3.4 million HIV positive people with antiretroviral treatment.
Speaking at the opening of the International Aids Conference, in Durban, on Monday night, Deputy President Ramaphosa said the struggle against HIV and AIDS has been – and still is – a struggle for a better society.
“It is a struggle for a society in which the human rights and dignity of all people are recognised and respected. We desire a society in which men do not claim dominion over women; a society in which the powerful do not prey on the vulnerable,” he said.
He said as the thousands of delegates gather in Durban, they were bound to recall the moving plea of an 11-year old boy, Nkosi Johnson, for treatment for children like him living with HIV.
“Within these walls, over the next few days, we will discuss, debate and interrogate our response to Nkosi Johnson’s plea.
“As we discuss and debate the work that has been done worldwide on HIV by scientists, health workers, activists, governments, development agencies and community based organisations, we are bound to acknowledge that great progress has been made.”
Although the world has surpassed its own global treatment targets, by initiating 17 million people on antiretroviral treatment. Many of the 2.5 million children currently living with HIV in South Africa have no access to treatment, due in large part to a lack of tailored screening and treatment options.
The Deputy President added that, despite challenges, South Africa has dramatically reduced the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
In 2004, there were 70 000 babies born HIV positive in this country, today this figure has been reduced to less than 6 000.
“We look to this conference to send a clear and unequivocal message to the world that we are determined and have the resolve to triumph. We can say with a measure of confidence that never before have we understood so clearly what we need to do in order to win the fight against the epidemic.”
The conference ends on Friday. – SAnews.gov.za
