JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Marking World AIDS Day, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile said Monday that the country's theme, "Renewed Efforts and Sustainable Commitments to End AIDS," underscores the need to reinforce HIV prevention and treatment programs at a time of tightening budgets.
Speaking at an official commemoration in Limpopo Province, Mashatile called the fight against HIV/AIDS a long-term strategic investment, stressing the need to sustain momentum even as global priorities shift. The commemoration emphasizes "the importance of our commitment to accelerate our efforts to end AIDS," Mashatile noted.
Mashatile applauded the country's progress while acknowledging persistent challenges. "Efforts against HIV and AIDS have achieved notable progress, including surpassing the first and third UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, yet challenges persist in initiating and retaining diagnosed individuals on treatment. Currently, South Africa's statistics are at 96-80-97, while global figures stand at 95-85-92," he said.
The 95-95-95 targets aim for 95 percent of people with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed to begin treatment, and 95 percent of those treated to achieve suppressed viral loads.
South Africa was among the countries that lost funding from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief early this year.
Mashatile said the government aims to bring back roughly 1 million people who have stopped collecting their medication from health facilities for various reasons.
The deputy president added that there was a need to strengthen access to treatment and ensure that people on treatment were retained and not lost. This would ensure that vulnerable population groups such as drug users and young women were not stigmatized but included, he said. ■
