Govt fully acknowledges reality of HIV/Aids

LAUREN PETERSEN

JOHANNESBURG - Denialism is dead and government has fully acknowledged the reality of the HIV/Aids epidemic.

Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister, Mike Waters, said this would be the first time in years government fully acknowledged the reality of Aids and recognised a crisis which was destroying lives and the consequences it has for all South Africans.

“The age of denialism lasted for almost a decade. Many lives were lost, and those losses can never be recovered. But there are other losses which we can do something about, and the DA welcomes the energy and the new spirit of activism that has developed since the May elections,” he said.

Today at the Pretoria Showgrounds, President Jacob Zuma was due to deliver his inaugural HIV/Aids address to the nation.

It was unconfirmed whether he’ll partake in an HIV/Aids test to mark World Aids Day celebration.