Govt still has work to do to prevent, treat more HIV infections
Posted 4th August 2008 at 05:59 PM by NewsTracker
By Proffesor Ndawonde
Mexico – Opening its exhibition stall at the 27th International AIDS Conference in Mexico, government said although it had made many achievements in its response to the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, there was still a lot of work to do.
Deputy Minister for Social Development Jean Swanson-Jacobs said for instance, government needed to make HIV prevention more effective.
She said it was this realisation that had led government to strive towards a 50 percent reduction in new HIV infections in its five-year National Strategic Plan (NSP).
While this might not be doable, the deputy minister said, government was acutely aware that if it did not mobilise South Africans towards this goal, the consequences may be more devastating.
“We believe that the partnerships that we have with communities, community-based organisations and development partners will take us close to this target if not there.
“Everyone is on board, with a specific attention in this term to the elderly people and people with disabilities,” she said.
The current NSP, which was launched in 2005 and will end in 2011 is aimed at strengthening and improving the efficiency of existing services and infrastructure and introduce additional intervention based on recent advances in knowledge.
Ms Swanson-Jacobs said the fundamental drivers of the epidemic were poverty, poor access to education, services infrastructure, water and sanitation.
“These challenges are difficult to deal with, and many people remain vulnerable to diseases such as HIV and AIDS in South Africa. The high number of people estimated to be living with HIV in our country implies that many people are and will be in need of treatment for a long time.”
Ms Swanson-Jacobs said the world was working tirelessly to lesson the impact made by HIV and AIDS on communities.
“As we struggle with climate change, food prices, fuel shortages, and underdevelopment, HIV and AIDS continues to loom large on the radar screen.
“NEPAD, the African position on Universal Access to universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support as well as the Southern Africa Development Community [SADC] HIV and AIDS strategy provide a framework for a regional approach to this disease.
“Let us seek to find convincingly effective HIV prevention interventions relevant to each specific epidemic in countries as well as HIV vaccines that work,” said the deputy minister.
Regarding the stall at the conference, Ms Swanson-Jacobs said there were people at the stall to respond to questions and materials to read.
The Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is attending the six-day conference aimed to provide dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to HIV and AIDS.
The conference will also underline the accomplishments and shortfall in the overall response to HIV and AIDS and will identify priorities for future actions. - BuaNews
Mexico – Opening its exhibition stall at the 27th International AIDS Conference in Mexico, government said although it had made many achievements in its response to the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, there was still a lot of work to do.
Deputy Minister for Social Development Jean Swanson-Jacobs said for instance, government needed to make HIV prevention more effective.
She said it was this realisation that had led government to strive towards a 50 percent reduction in new HIV infections in its five-year National Strategic Plan (NSP).
While this might not be doable, the deputy minister said, government was acutely aware that if it did not mobilise South Africans towards this goal, the consequences may be more devastating.
“We believe that the partnerships that we have with communities, community-based organisations and development partners will take us close to this target if not there.
“Everyone is on board, with a specific attention in this term to the elderly people and people with disabilities,” she said.
The current NSP, which was launched in 2005 and will end in 2011 is aimed at strengthening and improving the efficiency of existing services and infrastructure and introduce additional intervention based on recent advances in knowledge.
Ms Swanson-Jacobs said the fundamental drivers of the epidemic were poverty, poor access to education, services infrastructure, water and sanitation.
“These challenges are difficult to deal with, and many people remain vulnerable to diseases such as HIV and AIDS in South Africa. The high number of people estimated to be living with HIV in our country implies that many people are and will be in need of treatment for a long time.”
Ms Swanson-Jacobs said the world was working tirelessly to lesson the impact made by HIV and AIDS on communities.
“As we struggle with climate change, food prices, fuel shortages, and underdevelopment, HIV and AIDS continues to loom large on the radar screen.
“NEPAD, the African position on Universal Access to universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support as well as the Southern Africa Development Community [SADC] HIV and AIDS strategy provide a framework for a regional approach to this disease.
“Let us seek to find convincingly effective HIV prevention interventions relevant to each specific epidemic in countries as well as HIV vaccines that work,” said the deputy minister.
Regarding the stall at the conference, Ms Swanson-Jacobs said there were people at the stall to respond to questions and materials to read.
The Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is attending the six-day conference aimed to provide dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to HIV and AIDS.
The conference will also underline the accomplishments and shortfall in the overall response to HIV and AIDS and will identify priorities for future actions. - BuaNews
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