Issued by Ministry of Health
30 November 2005
Government notes the results of the survey by the HSRC and Nelson Mandela Foundation released earlier today.
The results give both a cause for hope as well as a reason to intensify action to combat HIV and AIDS through implementation of our Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Government welcomes the findings that the vast majority of participants in the survey appreciate government commitment to curb the spread of HIV infection and reducing the impact of AIDS. They acknowledge the significant investment made into the response to HIV and AIDS and support provided to affected families and children.
The report indicates that overall HIV prevalence has not changed significantly since the release of the last report in 2002. Particularly encouraging is the information about the impact of the prevention programme. The prevention messages regarding abstinence, faithfulness and condom use are being taken to heart, especially by the young.
While the report indicates that increasingly more female youth are abstaining and more people are finding that they had easy access to condoms, it is evident that prevalence is still on the increase among women. There is therefore a need to intensify programmes aimed at addressing factors that expose women to the risk of infection.
About 70% accessed condoms provided by government free of charge and close to 90% expressed satisfaction with the quality of government condoms.
Public health sector male condom distribution has increased from 270 million in 2003 to 346 million in 2004; and female condom distribution that rose by 100% from 1,3 to 2,6 million during the same period.
There is a need to sustain the positive sexual behaviour that is emerging amongst the youth into early adulthood and beyond. As part of our activities to mark 2006 as “the year of accelerated HIV and AIDS prevention”, government will intensify its communication and behaviour change messages as well as interventions to target in particular risk groups highlighted by the report including people between ages of 25-29 years and those older than 50.
As poverty remains the main factor that exposes our people to diseases, there is a need to intensify interventions aimed at improving the socio-economic status of women, people informal settlements and other vulnerable groups.
Government is encouraged that those who seek counseling and information feel they are able to find it. This line with the records of the Department of Health which indicate an increase in the number of people tested from 511 843 in 2003/04 to 1 019 476 during 20004/05.
The need for all South Africans to increase their level of involvement is reflected, amongst others, in the findings on where young people obtain information on AIDS. Pleasing though it is to see that schools and clinics are playing a significant role, it is disturbing to know that this is not being sufficiently reinforced by parents.
We urge all South Africans to lend a hand in building the partnership for vigorous implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.
It is only through active and meaningful partnerships that we can address the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS. Government alone cannot stop the spread of HIV infection. On World AIDS Day we appeal to all citizens to heed the call for a responsible sexual behaviour and adopt healthy lifestyle.
Contact: Sibani Mngadi @ 0827720161