Deputy President and Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) will deliver a keynote address at the World Aids Day National Commemoration event at the James Motlatsi Stadium in Orkney, Klerksdorp, in the North West province on the 1st of December 2019. The event will start at 08h00 and scheduled to end at 15h00. The Deputy President will be accompanied by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize and other senior government officials.
This year’s World AIDS Day will be commemorated under the theme: “Communities make the difference”, as part of the government`s efforts to recognize the role played by the communities in the fight against HIV, TB and STI’s. The theme is in line with the National Wellness Campaign called Check Impilo. The campaign urges all South Africans to take responsibility for their health and wellness.
The event provides an opportunity to recognize the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the international and national level. Mabuza will be providing an update on the progress made in the fight against HIV, TB and STI’s and outline some of the challenges that requires ongoing partnership with all sectors of our society. Furthermore, the event is also a platform for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, TB and STI’s and show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
The government is continuing to work together with civil society organizations and the private sector has made significant strides in responding to the challenges of HIV, TB and STI’s. South Africa is committed to reaching the UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets by 2020. The aim of this strategy is to ensure that 90% of people living with HIV are tested and know their status that 90% of people living with HIV are receiving treatment, and 90% of people on treatment have a suppressed viral load. Moreover, Mabuza will also use the platform to call upon all sectors of our society to find missing TB patients who are infected with TB but have never been diagnosed and therefore not on treatment.
