World AIDS Day

1 December

'iBambeni - Take Responsibility'

1 December 2010 is the 22nd commemoration of World AIDS Day. The national event will be held at Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga, under the theme We are responsible.

World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for government to demonstrate delivery on commitments made in 2009 and communicate government’ leadership in addressing HIV and AIDS issues

Since the 1 April 2010, government has begun to expand the programme for the prevention of mother to child transmission, and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for children as announced by President Jacob Zuma on 1 December 2009.
A massive HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) Campaign was launched at the end of April 2010, calling on each and every South African to demonstrate that they are responsible by taking an HIV test. The drive seeks to test 15 million South Africans by the end of June 2011.
Children under the age of one year are treated regardless of their CD4 count.
All tuberculosis (TB) treatment sites also test and treat for HIV and vice versa.
All pregnant HIV-positive women with a CD4 count of 350 or less are provided with ARV treatment.

On 1 December 2010, South Africans will demonstrate collective responsibility in the fight against HIV and AIDS

We need to support and influence people within our communities to reduce risky sexual behaviour to prevent the spread of HIV.
We need to continue to test and influence others to test for HIV and TB as a routine way of ensuring healthy lifestyle choices, irrespective of status.
We should begin a dialogue among South Africans – in our homes, communities, workplaces and place of worship – to support the country in the development of the next National Strategic Plan 2012 – 2016, the blueprint that will guide South Africa on the journey towards an AIDS-free society.
All sectors of society will have to interrogate their role in addressing the epidemic and show that WE ARE RESPONSIBLE for each other in ensuring a healthy society.

We are responsible calls on:

men, women, families and healthcare workers to support pregnant women so that they can make decisions to protect their children from HIV
couples to talk about their relationships and how they can protect themselves by remaining faithful, including those who are in multiple-partner relationships
communities to stop stigma and discrimination around HIV testing by beginning to normalise HIV counseling and testing
communities to take action and speak out against violence against women
communities to provide care and support to those living with and affected by HIV, in particular orphans and vulnerable children

"Working together we can create an AIDS-free society”

Related information

[ Top ]

Last modified: 26 November 2010 13:35:02.