World AIDS Day

1 December

South Africa Takes Responsibility … on a PATH to Eliminating the TB and HIV Epidemics

South Africa marks the 23rd anniversary of World AIDS Day by unveiling the new HIV and AIDS, STI and TB (HAST) National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2012-2016. The NSP sets out the strategic priorities for dealing with the dual epidemics of HIV an TB in South Africa. It is a culmination of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, driven by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

The global theme for the World AIDS Day Campaign is “Getting to Zero”, which echoes the UNAIDS’ vision of achieving “Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths”. This theme seeks to encourage individuals and communities to have non-discriminatory and non-judgemental access to adequate HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and tuberculosis (TB) prevention, treatment, care and support.

The commemoration of World AIDS Day 2011 takes place at Wolfson Stadium, Kwa-Zakhele, Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape on 1 December. President Jacob Zuma will address the occasion.

The 2010 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey indicates that the National prevalence of HIV/AIDS stabilised between 2009 and 2010.

World AIDS Day is the longest-running international health commemorative day.