Sekhukhune District observes World Aids Day
The chairperson of the South African National Aids Council led the official commemoration of World Aids Day at the local stadium in Ga-Masemola Village.
In his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council, Deputy President Paul Mashatile led the official commemoration of World Aids Day at the local stadium in Ga-Masemola Village on Monday, December 8th.
The day is observed annually in solidarity with people living with HIV/Aids and to raise awareness on the epidemic and encourage prevention, treatment, and care.
The country’s commemoration was under the theme ‘Renewed Efforts and Sustainable Commitments to End Aids’.
Delivering a keynote address, Mashatile commended that efforts against HIV/Aids have achieved notable progress, including surpassing the first and third UNAIDS’s 95-95-95 targets.
However, Mashatile noted that challenges remain the initiation and retention of diagnosed individuals on treatment.
Currently, the country’s statistics are standing at 96-80-97. Mashatile stated that to confront the stubborn second 95 target, the country launched the 1.1 million ‘Close the Gap’ Treatment Acceleration Campaign on February 25, which he described as one of the most ambitious national recovery initiatives.
He expressed that the campaign is not merely about reaching a number but about restoring life, reclaiming hope, and bringing people back into the system they drifted away from for many complex reasons.
The deputy president stressed that the campaign needs to be defended daily as a national call to action.
“We call for multi-sectoral co-ordination to ensure that we continue to perform various community-based interventions, such as door-to-door, ward-to-ward and district-to-district mobilisations. These strategies are essential for encouraging re-engagement in care, highlighting that treatment remains free, lifesaving, and a fundamental right for citizens to improve their lives. Our progress to date shows something undeniable that when government, civil society, traditional leaders, healthcare workers and communities work together, South Africa moves, South Africa heals, South Africa rises. Through this campaign, we are saying loudly that every person lost to care matters,” Mashatile pointed out.
He added that as a government, they are acutely aware that to achieve the second 95 target, they must implement policies that improve access, retention and re-engagement with treatment.
“We continue to make significant improvements in HIV testing, treatment, and care through expanded access to antiretroviral therapy and innovative community-led prevention efforts,” Mashatile further said.
He also stressed the need to intensify the fight against TB, highlighting that in 2024, the disease claimed the lives of 1.3 million individuals worldwide, with 54 000 fatalities in South Africa.
