The end of HIV as a public health threat is in sight: Ramaphosa

30 November 2015 - 13:01 By TMG Digital

World Aids Day 2015 is a time to be “inspired by the many actions taken by South Africans from all walks of life over many years to achieve an Aids-free generation”‚ Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said. But while “all of us have worked together and have risen to the challenge”‚ Ramaphosa added that “we are still facing many challenges”.SA’s success is evidenced in the fact that that we “have the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world‚ with more than 3 million of our people on life-saving antiretrovirals”‚ he said“People are living longer and fewer people are dying of Aids and TB.“Life expectancy has increased from 53 years in 2006 to just over 62 years in 2013. We have reduced mother-to-child transmission further.”Yet‚ despite acting “in various ways…to spread information‚ to fight stigma and to promote healthy lifestyles”‚ the “number of new HIV infections is still extremely high‚ particularly among young women and girls”."Our theme for World AIDS Day is ‘Rise. Act. Protect.’ As a nation‚ we must rise to this challenge‚ determined and committed and confident that we can succeed‚” Ramaphosa said .“We must protect ourselves and those who are nearest to us. We must protect the vulnerable. We must combat stigma and create an environment in which all can feel safe and comfortable to test and be treated. The end of HIV as a public health threat is in sight.”..

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