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Update on the HIV/AIDS Plan as South African delegation leaves for the International AIDS Conference
Ministry of Health Media Statement. 08 July 2004.
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A high-level South African Health delegation led by Health Minister, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, leaves for Bangkok, Thailand tomorrow to attend the 15th International AIDS Conference to be held in that country from 11-16 July 2004.
The delegation includes MECs for Health from four provinces - Eastern Cape Health MEC, Dr Bevan Goqwana, Gauteng MEC, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Mpumalanga MEC, William Lubisi and Western Cape MEC, Pierre Uys.
The team of health officials that are part of the delegation include Acting Director General of the Department of Health, Ms Nthari Matsau, Heads of Provincial Health Departments and managers responsible for HIV/AIDS at national and provincial level.
The delegation will gather information on experiences of other countries in responding to HIV/AIDS, particularly in the area of prevention of mother to transmission of HIV, development of microbicide and integration of HIV and TB interventions.
Update on the Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Plan
This is the first International AIDS Conference to be held since Cabinet adopted the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV/AIDS. The delegation will therefore use this opportunity to share South Africa's experience in implementing the Plan. Significant progress has been made since the Department started implementing the Comprehensive Plan.
Prevention
In the absence of a cure for HIV/AIDS, the Plan emphasises centrality of prevention in our national response to HIV/AIDS. It requires government to sustain and scale up prevention interventions.In the absence of a cure for HIV and AIDS, the Plan emphasises centrality of prevention in our national response to HIV and AIDS. It requires government to sustain and scale up prevention interventions.In the absence of a cure for HIV and AIDS, the Plan emphasises centrality of prevention in our national response to HIV and AIDS. It requires government to sustain and scale up prevention interventions. As part of prevention efforts, the Department of Health recently launched newly branded government condoms. There has been a dramatic 80% increase in the distribution of these high quality male condoms from 150 million in 1997 to 270 million in 2003. We have increased the budget for HIV and AIDS communication campaign, Khomanani Caring Together - from R90 million in the past two years to R165 million for the next two years. Together with Soul City Institute and Centre for Disease Control, Khomanani has produced and is distributing 11 million copies of the "HIV and AIDS and Treatment" booklet as part of the Comprehensive Plan. This is probably the largest public health education drive of its kind. The 49-page booklet is printed in all 11 official languages and contains detailed information on how HIV is transmitted and how it can be prevented; knowing your HIV status and the holistic management of HIV and AIDS including details about what is anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and when and how it should be taken.
The full statement can be downloaded on the righthand side of this page |
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