United Nations report confirms that South Africa has the largest AIDS treatment

The Department of Health is encouraged by the 2008 Report on Global Epidemic released by UNAIDS today in advance of the International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico next week.

While South Africa remains the country with the highest number of people living with HIV, the latest UNAIDS report confirms that the country has the highest number of people on treatment globally.

The report also provides encouraging data on the trend of HIV and AIDS epidemic in the country and the African continent. It states that the prevalence of HIV in the Southern Africa region is falling and South Africa is one of the three countries in the region where the epidemic has stabilised. The other two countries are Malawi and Zambia.

The report acknowledges the efforts that are being made in the area of prevention by noting that some 96% of SA schools were providing life-skills based HIV education in the last academic year. It also lists South Africa's men in partnership against gender violence and the role of Soul City as one of the exemplary programmes on HIV prevention.

The report indicates that of the three million people put on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment worldwide by 2007, South Africa accounted for close to 429 000 (14%). It shows that the number of people on ARV treatment in South Africa rose sharply from 55 000 in 2004 to 429 000 in 2007. Close to 160 000 HIV positive people with tuberculosis (TB) received TB and HIV treatment in 2007.

The percentage of HIV positive women accessing ARV treatment to reduce the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV also increased from 15% in 2004 to about 60% in 2007, according to the UNAIDS Report.

While HIV and AIDS remains a major challenge facing South Africa, the Department of Health is encouraged by the progress reported in the UNAIDS Reports on HIV and reducing the impact of AIDS in South Africa.

The Department remains committed in intensifying its contribution to the National multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS.

Statement issued by the Department of Health July 29 2008