President Zuma: "Now is not the time to lament. It
is the time to act decisively, and to act together."
On December 1 2009, President Jacob Zuma spoke to the nation
about HIV and AIDS. "Our message is simple," he said. "We have to
stop the spread of HIV. We must reduce the rate of new
infections."
President Zuma told 3,000 excited AIDS compatriots that prevention
is South Africa's most powerful weapon and that the epidemic will
only be overcome by individuals taking responsibility for their own
lives. The address was broadcast live on national television and
made headline news in all the local media of the day.
He announced major revisions to AIDS policy that will expand the
HIV testing and treatment programmes. These include:
- A massive campaign to mobilise all South Africans to get tested
for HIV;
- Treatment for all HIV-positive children under one year of
age;
- Treatment for all TB/HIV co-infected people whose CD4 count is
less than 350;
- Treatment for all HIV-positive pregnant women whose CD4 count
is less that 350;
- PMTCT for all HIV-posititive pregnant women to start at 14
weeks; and
- Counselling, testing and treatment services to be expanded to
all health facilities.
These reforms are to be implemented by April 2010.
Cheering the new guidelines, left to right:UNAIDS
chief, Michel Sidibe, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi,
President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President and SANAC Chair Kgalema
Motlanthe, SANAC Deputy Chair Mark Heywood, Tshwane Mayor Dr Gwen
Ramokgopa.
