ANC Statement on the Fight against HIV/AIDS

The African National Congress congratulates the Government and people of South Africa on the successes recorded in the fight again HIV/AIDS as contained in the United Nations (UN) report presented by its Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, yesterday, 10 June 2013 (see here - PDF).

The report which reviews the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS adopted by the General Assembly in 2011, notes that while Sub-Saharan Africa remains the worst-affected region by the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Aids related deaths in South Africa had significantly dropped over the last 3 years. We have no doubt this decrease in Aids deaths in South Africa is a direct result of the ANC government's successful HIV/ AIDS treatment programmes over, particularly, the last 5 years.

Amongst the key interventions has been the massive voluntary counseling and testing campaign ensuring that millions of people now know their status and where necessary get treatment. The ANC government has made antiretroviral (ARV) treatment available to more people and earlier ensuring that our people are able to commence treatment once the CD4 count is at 350 or below. In an effort to reduce mother-to-child transmission, all pregnant women are tested for HIV/AIDS and if infected, receive treatment immediately thus saving over 300 000 babies from the pandemic and increasing life expectancy from 50 to 60 in the last 3 years.

Without a doubt, the decisive interventions above speak clearly to the ANC's stance to protecting and safeguarding the right to life. Our humble beginnings in the fight against the HIV/ AIDS pandemic have indeed borne dividends as acknowledged by the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and other bodies.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, June 11 2013

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