7.2 An integrated and holistic approach to HIV and AIDS
Government has developed the 10 Point Plan of the Health Sector 2009-2014 to strengthen its ability to meet the
health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).9 In relation to HIV/AIDS, the plan prioritises the following:
• Provision of strategic leadership and creation of a social compact with organs of civil society ;
• Accelerated implementation of the HIV/AIDS, and STI National Strategic Plan 2007-2011, and increased focus
on TB and other communicable diseases;
• Review of the Drug Policy; and
• Strengthen Research and Development.
The Programme has been endorsed by a wide range of key stakeholders in the health sector, including trade unions;
medical associations; nursing organisations; the private health sector, NGOs and civil society. The Programme was
also endorsed at the Public Health Summit held in March 2010.
To give practical expression to the Programme, government announced a new AIDS-prevention-and-treatment
plan to scale up the fight against HIV and AIDS. The Plan is intended to meet the goals of the country’s National
Strategic Plan, which aims to reduce the rate of infection by 50% in 2011 and to provide Antiretroviral Treatment
(ART) to 80% of those in need.
In April 2010, South Africa National Aids Council (SANAC) began a massive HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT)
campaign. The President, the Deputy President, Cabinet Ministers, Provincial Premiers, as well as leaders of civil
society publicly took HIV tests to encourage testing and to destigmatise HIV. This has increased public awareness
on the need for HIV and AIDS voluntary testing. As of July 2010 more than 1 million people had tested voluntarily
for HIV and 70, 605 had been enrolled onto the ART programme.
The 2009 National Community Survey indicates that knowledge of treatment has increased significantly, with 87%
(2009) compared to 42% (2006) of those who knew about treatment identifying ARTs as a treatment, and 73%
(2009) compared to 40% (2006) of them knowing that it was a lifetime commitment.
9
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases
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