Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed this through a statement released by the Presidency earlier this week. This year’s theme for World Aids Day is “Rise. Act. Protect”.
Ramaphosa called on South Africans to continue rallying behind the fight against HIV/AIDS in celebration of World AIDS Day. “As we celebrate World Aids Day, we are inspired by the many actions taken by South Africans from all walks of life over many years to achieve an Aids-free generation,” said Ramaphosa.
In the statement, Ramaphosa also reiterated that life expectancy has also increased from 53 years in 2006 to just over 62 years in 2013, while mother-to-child transmission rates continue to decrease.
“We have the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world, with more than 3 million of our people on life-saving antiretrovirals. People are living longer and fewer people are dying of AIDS and TB.
“We have made protection our priority, from classrooms to sports fields, from the factory floor to our homes, from our bedrooms to our boardrooms, and all corners of our society.
“We need to spread the word about prevention, encouraging all sexually active South Africans to use condoms. We need to encourage people to test for HIV and TB,” he added
He went on to encourage society to take priority in protecting themselves and the people close to them.
“As a people, and as individuals, we must act to inform, to support and to encourage. No action is too small. No contribution is wasted. We must protect ourselves and those who are nearest to us. We must also 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. As we commemorate World AIDS Day, let us work harder and with determination to secure an AIDS-free South Africa and indeed an AIDS-free world.”
