Ramaphosa says HIV and Aids can be defeated
Deputy President embarked on an outreach campaign of the HIV Counseling and Testing Campaign in eMbalenhle.
eMBALENHLE – Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President, said South Africa has the ability and resolve to overcome the HIV/Aids epidemic.
He was speaking at the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) Campaign Outreach on Satuday, 8 November.
Mr Ramaphosa was accompanied by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Mr Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology, and Mr David Mabuza, Mpumalanga Premier.
He encouraged residents to know their status and to be faithful to their partners, to use condoms and those who are still young, to abstain from sex.
This visit to eMbalenhle was after he had chaired the plenary session of the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) at Secunda Sasol Club.
He said it was the first time that he had met all the members of the Sanac community.
“Through the individual and collective networks you have built over a very long time, South Africa is now a critical part of the global HIV community.
“More importantly, your commitment to this cause has contributed to some of the progress made in slowing down this devastating epidemic.
“You refused to give up on humanity and today the world is a different place because of your work.”
Mr Ramaphosa said even as we celebrate progress, we must also acknowledge that we have a long and challenging path ahead.
South Africans cannot deny the significant challenges we face and we cannot avoid them.
“We have among us some of the world’’s leading scientists and researchers in this field.
“We have representatives of vibrant and engaged civil society formations.
“We have dedicated health providers who have been at the coal face of this epidemic for many years.”
The outreach programme of the HCT Campaign forms part of a partnership between Government, Sasol and other businesses.
It seeks to provide Sasol employees, contractors and the surrounding communities with much needed comprehensive health services.
The national HTC Campaign was launched by President Jacob Zuma in April 2010 to encourage people to know their HIV status and to have access to counselling and treatment.
During their visit to Mpumalanga, Deputy President Ramaphosa, the Ministers and the Premier handed out condoms and engaged with residents at a taxi rank in eMbalenhle.
They also signed a pledge, along with businesses and Sanac to fight HIV.
Mr Aaron Motsoenedi, Minister of Health, said Gert Sibande District is one out of the 52 districts with a high rate of people with HIV and Aids and that it also have the lowest rate in male circumcisions.
He urged people to have a test done to know their status and for men to consider circumcision as it reduces the chance of getting HIV and Aids.
