Aids: 'SA has made progress'
2008-08-03 11:05
Special Report
The South African government has announced a joint venture to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral drugs with a Swiss company.
Johannesburg - Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has left for Mexico City to attend the United Nations XVII International Aids Conference scheduled for Sunday, the Presidency said on Saturday.
Speaking from Mexico City, spokesperson Thabang Chiloane said Mlambo-Ngcuka was heading the South Africa delegation comprising the deputy minister of correctional services, officials from the department of health, provincial MECs of health and social development and sections of civil society.
Chiloane said South Africa had made significant progress in HIV/Aids after the Toronto conference two years ago, when the country received criticism for its efforts to fight the disease.
"We have made significant progress. The National Strategic HIV/Aids Plan 2007-2011 is in place and it has ambitious targets in prevention, treatment and care," Chiloane said.
He said government and Aids organisations now had a "good working relationship".
"Government and Aids organisations have a good working relationship and the deputy of the SA National Aids Council is from the civil society sector," he said.
Chiloane said government also remained committed to ensuring that people who needed anti-retroviral treatment receive it.
Commenting on the relevance of the conference, Chiloane said it was a "huge" conference and that the value of it would be seen by what happened after it.
"The conference has almost 30 000 delegates... it is what happens after the conference that matters," he said.
- SAPA