Statement by the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi at the launch of the 2008 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey, Pretoria, October 5 2009
Programme Director
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo
Acting Director-General Dr Kamy Chetty
Members of the Peer Review Team
Members of the media
Let me welcome you all to this important event. I am sure that you have been waiting for the release of the 2008 national antenatal sentinel HIV and syphilis prevalence survey (see here) because we are all very concerned about the HIV epidemic and its impact on our country.
As we all know, HIV and AIDS continues to be one of the biggest challenge facing us. Over the years, as government, civil society, business and other sectors we have launched individual and joint programmes geared at responding to this challenge. It is not my intention this afternoon to comment on the success or otherwise of such interventions. What I am prepared to say with emphasis is our commitment as this government to continue to work together with all sectors of our society to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Equally important for us is the need to work with academics and researchers as we continue to find new ways to respond to this challenge. It is for this reason that I am encouraged by the presence this afternoon of some of the researchers and academics who were part of our Peer Review team and I wish to thank them for being true patriots and making themselves part of this national effort. I sure that we not going to experience some of the problems we saw last year for instance where the integrity of the survey results were questioned.
As we launch the 2008 antenatal HIV and syphilis survey Report, I do not want to fall in the trap of making good-sounding statements about whether the signs are good or bad.