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Key messages for World AIDS Day 2009

I am responsible, We are responsible, South Africa is taking responsibility

Under the theme “I am responsible, We are responsible, South Africa is taking
responsibility”, the 2009 World AIDS Day heralds a new era in the country’s collective effort in the response to HIV and AIDS. The theme encourages everyone in South Africa from individuals, communities, businesses and government to take personal and collective responsibility to stop new HIV infections, provide care and support to those living with HIV and to ensure access to treatment for all people in need.

The HIV & AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Strategic Plan for South Africa 2007-2011 has key objectives to:

• Halve new HIV infections by 2011
• Ensure that 80% of people living with HIV have access to treatment

To achieve these goals we all need to work together. Each one of us can play a part
and must take responsibility to meet the goals of the National Strategic Plan.

• Key messages
• What can you do on World AIDS Day 2009
• HIV Helplines
• Mobile services

Key messages

I am responsible calls on:

• Everyone to know their HIV status by testing regularly for HIV
• Young people to delay having sex for the first time.
• Young people to make informed choices to prevent unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection.
• Sexually active people to be faithful to their partners and to use condoms each time they have sex
• Pregnant women to test for HIV early in their pregnancy and to use condoms each time they have sex.
• Those with TB to test for HIV and those with HIV to test for TB so that they can get the right treatment.

We are responsible calls on:

• Couples to talk about their relationships and how they can protect each other from HIV infection. Couples can protect themselves by remaining faithful to each other, testing for HIV together and always using condoms.
• Men, women, families and healthcare workers to support pregnant women so that they can make decisions to protect their children from HIV.
• Communities to provide care and support to those living with and affected by HIV, in particular orphans and vulnerable children.
• Communities to take action and speak out against violence against women.
• Communities to stop stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

South Africa is taking responsibility:

Government and all sectors of society represented in the South African National AIDS Council are providing leadership to ensure that:

• every South African can prevent HIV infections and know their HIV status,
• pregnant women can access Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission services
• all those with tuberculosis (TB) can access TB drugs
• all HIV positive people can access anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.

HIV prevention

• If you and your partner stay faithful to each other you can protect yourselves from HIV.
• Every time you start a new sexual relationship you should both be sure of your HIV status. You can find out where to go for a HIV test by calling the numbers at the back of this booklet.
• Use condoms each time you have sex. This means every time and every round.
• Having sex when you have been drinking or using drugs increases your chances of getting infected with HIV.
• Having sex in exchange for money or other material things increases your chances of getting infected with HIV.

Anti-retroviral treatment

• Every South African living with HIV has the right to get anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.
• Successful treatment means being responsible for taking the medications every day. This is a life long commitment.
• Anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment and good nutrition can prolong and improve the lives of people living with HIV.
• Your health is your responsibility. If you are HIV positive then go for regular check ups at your nearest health facility so that you get the medications that you need.

HIV and tuberculosis (TB)

There is a strong link between HIV and TB:

• Ask to be tested for TB if you are HIV positive and tested for HIV if you have TB.
• TB is preventable and curable even if you are HIV positive. Speak to your healthcare worker for more information.
• TB can be cured if you take your medication in line with instructions from your healthcare worker.

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV – Saving Mothers, saving Babies

• Every man and woman has the right to decide if and when they want to have a baby.
• Every man and women has the responsibility to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
• Every woman has the right to terminate her pregnancy.
• Every pregnant woman and her partner should visit a clinic as soon as she realises she is pregnant and they should test for HIV.
• Fathers, families, communities and healthcare workers should support women living with HIV so that they can make the best decisions for their baby during the pregnancy and after the birth.
• Every HIV positive pregnant woman should ask for and receive Anti-RetroViral (ARV) treatment to stay healthy and to prevent infecting her child with HIV.
• Every HIV positive mother has the right to decide whether to only breastfeed or to only use infant formula feeding. To make a decision she must discuss these choices with her health care worker.
• Every baby born to a HIV positive mother should be tested for HIV after six weeks.
• Every baby born with HIV has the right to receive Anti-RetroViral (ARV) treatment to improve its quality of life.

What can you do on World AIDS Day 2009

Show that you are responsible:

• Go for a HIV test. Test alone, with your partner, with your friends or with your family.
• Wear a red ribbon to show your personal commitment to stopping new HIV infections and to providing care and support for people living with HIV.
• Talk to your partner, friends, family and colleagues at work about how you can prevent becoming infected with HIV.
• Encourage pregnant women to test early in their pregnancy for HIV so that they can prevent their babies from getting infected with HIV.

Show that we are responsible:

• Provide red ribbons to your employees, colleagues, family and friends to show your collective responsibility.
• Organise a discussion in your office, community or organisation about what you can do to stop the spread of HIV.
• Organise a community march or activity to talk about HIV.

South Africa is taking responsibility:

• The Government is taking responsibility to make sure that everyone tests for HIV, receives counselling, that condoms are available and that all people have access to treatment for TB and HIV.

Remember that your health is your responsibility

I am responsible, We are responsible, South Africa is taking responsibility.

HIV Helplines

Mobile Services

We can stop AIDS, and we can live with it – but you need the right information to help understand how to prevent getting it, how to manage it, and how to help others cope. Now all this is available in your pocket – on your cellphone!

For all cellphones

• Get updated about HIV on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2009: send a pleasecall-me to 079 706 4014 (free!)
• Find a World AIDS Day event close to you: send a blank SMS to 30060 (from 16 November. Free to Vodacom subscribers; normal SMS rates for other networks)
• Read about all the ways you can use your cellphone to get HIV info and help: dial *120*923# (20 cents for 20 seconds)

For fancy phones

• Learn about HIV and get counselling on MXit: go to Tradepost>MXit Mix>My Culture>Red (about 1c to read HIV content and have a chat with a counsellor)
• Learn all you need to know from a book on your cellphone! SMS one of the following - EHIV (English), ZHIV (Zulu), SHIV (Sotho) or AHIV (Afrikaans) - to 32907 (R1 for SMS + standard data charge of about 30c to download)
• Become an expert on HIV basics: use the internet on your phone to browse redhiv.mobi (R2/MB)
• Vodacom subscribers can log on to live.vodafone.com and visit the Young Africa Live section to read and talk about HIV (from 1 December. Free for Vodacom)

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Last modified: 03 November 2009 15:18:28.