ANC WELCOMES PROGRESSIVE POLICY SHIFT ON HIV/AIDS

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the progressive policy shift on HIV/AIDS as articulated today (1 December 2009) by President Jacob Zuma to mark World Aids Day (see speech). Not only does the policy change portray the ANC-led Government as caring but it demonstrates its commitment to effectively fight the pandemic.

We are happy to see concrete steps to be undertaken by the Government, which come into effect on April 2010. We particularly welcome the fact that:

• All children under one year of age will get treatment if they test positive, not determined by the level of CD cells. This will contribute significantly towards the reduction of infant mortality over time.
• All patients with both TB and HIV will get treatment with anti-retrovirals if their CD4 count is 350 or less.
• TB and HIV/Aids will now be treated under one roof.
• All pregnant HIV positive women with a CD4 count of 350 or with symptoms regardless of CD4 count will have access to treatment. We believe that this will go a long way to decrease the deaths of pregnant women who are HIV positive and protect unborn babies.
• All other pregnant women not falling into this category, but who are HIV positive, will be put on treatment at fourteen weeks of pregnancy to protect the baby.

In saying we should "overcome HIV the same way that it spreads - one individual at a time" and calling on people to "really show that all of us are responsible," President Zuma today made a strong call to all South Africans to go and test. He has further demonstrated how he has led the HIV/AIDS campaign from the front by announcing making arrangements to take a test, having taken one before and knowing his status.

We fully endorse this stance and call on other leaders to follow his example. The President's call to depoliticise the pandemic, should also be applauded.

As the frightening statistics of 1000 new infections being reported daily in South Africa, we call on all ANC structures, Alliance partners, business and organs of civil society to engage vigorously in our campaign aimed at ensuring that people know their status. It is only through encouraging people to test and knowing their status that we can achieve the target of cutting down new infections by 50 percent. It is also when we go out to test in our multitudes that we can achieve the 80 percent target we have set ourselves for people to get access to ARVs and get best regime for treatment.

The ANC thanks many South Africans for heeding the call by Government to voluntarily undertake HIV/AIDS test. We cannot over-emphasise the crucial importance of anyone knowing his or her status, undergoing counselling, taking medication and eating well.

In dealing with HIV/AIDS, we are encouraged to see the good and positive working relationship that has developed between Government, organs of civil society and business to intensify awareness campaigns aimed at educating millions of our people about this scourge. Equally we would like to express appreciation on countries sharing learnings and research on HIV/AIDS.

We acknowledge and appreciate the good gesture by the United States Government to donate $120 million to South Africa, which will go towards the disbursement of drugs over two years. This contribution will make a huge difference to many who are in dire need of the much-needed drugs. In the interest of globally stamping out this pandemic, we call on the developed world to follow the good example set by the US by financially supporting HIV/AIDS programmes in developing countries.

As we celebrate World Aids Day, we also want to remind all South Africans about observing 16 Days of Activism against women and children. It is only through strengthening programmes directed at gender-based violence and improving the position of women in society, that we can take the country forward.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, December 1 2009

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