Too many South Africans are still being infected with HIV, said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday – ahead of this week’s World Aids Day on December 1.
“The number of new HIV infections is still extremely high, particularly among young women and girls,” said Ramaphosa in a statement issued by the presidency.
All sexually-active South Africans should use condoms, he said. Nevertheless, the country had made great strides in dealing with the illness.
“We have the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world, with more than three million of our people on life-saving antiretrovirals,” he said.
“The end of HIV as a public health threat is in sight.”
The international theme for World Aids Day to be held on Tuesday is “Getting to Zero”.
Ramaphosa said South Africa’s focus would be on the pledge to “Rise. Act. Protect”.
Ramaphosa said South Africa’s focus would be on the pledge to “Rise. Act. Protect”.
Earlier this week, Health24 reported that Aids has become the leading cause of death among African teens.
According to results released by Unicef at a conference in SA on Friday, 26 new HIV infections were occurring globally, every hour among teenagers aged between 15 and19.
According to results released by Unicef at a conference in SA on Friday, 26 new HIV infections were occurring globally, every hour among teenagers aged between 15 and19.
Of the two million young people in this age range, living with the virus – about half were from just six countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Mozambique and Tanzania.
