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15 April 2005

The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) held its regular meeting to discuss various issues relating to HIV and AIDS in Pretoria today, 15 April 2005.

The Council received a report on the progress being made in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS. A full report will be distributed to SANAC members after it has been presented to Cabinet. The budget for this programme has increased by 45% from R782 million in 2004/5 financial year to R1,135 billion in 2005/6.

The Comprehensive Plan emphasises prevention of HIV infection and strengthening of the health system to provide a series of interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of AIDS.

The Council noted that the National HIV Antenatal Sero-Prevalence Survey continues to indicate trends toward stabilisation of HIV prevalence in the country and was encouraged by the downward trends in the prevalence of HIV amongst teenagers. The Council noted that condom distribution has increased to about one million male condoms per day and 1.1 million female condoms per year.

The uptake for Voluntary Counselling and Testing has increased significantly and the Council agreed that campaigns to encourage confidential HIV testing should be intensified as an entry point for healthy living for both those who test positive and negative.

The Council noted that a target of establishing at least one service point for AIDS related treatment in every district before 31 March 2005 has been achieved. These service points provide counselling on healthy living with HIV, good nutrition, treatment of opportunistic infections, traditional medicine and antiretroviral drugs.

The Council received a report on the World Health Organisation Conference on Nutrition and HIV and AIDS organised by the World Health Organisation in Durban from 10 - 13 April 2005. The conference focused on the role of nutrition as an intervention in delaying progression from HIV infection to development of AIDS defining conditions and supporting treatment. The Council noted that there is need for more research to inform policy position on infant feeding in the context of HIV and AIDS.

Hospitality and Tourism and Labour sectors presented their reports to the Council.

In its capacity as the Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund), SANAC invited organisations to submit proposals for the fifth round. The proposals should cover the following areas:

* reduction of stigma associated with HIV and AIDS
* decreasing vulnerability of orphans
* capacity building and community mobilisation at local government and NGO
* Training on vector control, surveillance and case management for malaria
* Operational research for malaria

The proposals should be submitted before 3 May 2005.

Enquiries: Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 781 9332

Issued by: The Presidency on behalf of SANAC
15 April 2005