Mbete: Always use condoms
2008-12-01 21:02
Special Report
Aids has now killed 25m people around the world, but the number of new infections is slowing sharply, the UN says.
Durban - Use a condom with each partner, and every round, Deputy President Baleka Mbete said on Monday.
Addressing people at the World Aids Day commemoration at Durban's Sahara Stadium, she emphasised that one should "always use condoms with all your partners".
Mbete added that having sex when drunk also increased the risk of infection.
"My message to you is to be a leader on HIV and tuberculosis in your home, your school, your workplace and your community."
She urged women to stand firm with their partners and ask for HIV tests before indulging in sexual activities.
Despite the high prevalence of HIV in South Africa, Mbete said there had been significant gains through government's national strategic plan.
"We have the largest ARV treatment programme in the world, and we distribute millions of free male and female condoms across the country."
Working together
She said HIV/Aids and TB were national priorities which required urgent action.
"Our goal is geared towards halving new infections by 2011."
Health Minister Barbara Hogan said South Africans needed to work together to save future generations.
"We pledge to urgently scale up mother-to-child ARV treatment... it will not be easy, nor will it work over one day."
She challenged all men in the stadium to stand up and vow that they would be tested.
Most of them adhered to the challenge, including dignitaries like Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba, ANC provincial chairman Zweli Mkhize, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele, as well as Congress of SA Trade Unions' Zet Luzipho and Zwelinzima Vavi.
"As a government, we say we need the help of every citizen to prevent HIV and TB... and together we shall overcome," said Hogan.
Spread the message
Doctor Peter Piot, executive director of United Nations Aids (UNAids), said more than half a million people in South Africa were alive because they were receiving antiretroviral treatment.
He said the challenge for South Africa was to get the treatment to everyone who had been diagnosed with it.
"When we work together, we can move mountains."
Premier Sbu Ndebele said all those involved in the fight against HIV/Aids should move out of the boardroom and lead a social movement to spread the message.
He said significant progress had been made in the administration of antiretroviral treatment.
He said government had increased funding for the HIV/Aids control programme in the province from R40m in 2001, to R1.2bn in 2008.
"We have also increased the testing of the number of pregnant women and infants for HIV/Aids from 32% in 2000, to more than 95% in 2007.
Government officials also entered a huge red ribbon into the Guinness Book of World Records on Monday.
Hogan said the red ribbon challenged all South Africans to donate small pieces of red cloth and write a pledge on it about how they would help prevent HIV/Aids.
Unveiling the national ribbon
All the pieces of cloth were sewn together, said Hogan, to create "the largest red ribbon ever created in the world".
She said the ribbon would recognise the efforts of every individual in the country and the commitment of prevention in future.
Hogan said 2 000m of red cloth had been collected and that KwaZulu-Natal took the lead with the highest amount of contributed cloth.
Mbete meanwhile unveiled the national ribbon and lit a flame of hope, whilst releasing two white doves from her hands.
The stadium was packed with at least 2 000 people, many wearing red World Aids Day t-shirts.
- SAPA