UNAIDS Welcomes South African Government's Renewed Commitment To HIV/AIDS


UNAIDS Welcomes South African Government's Renewed Commitment To HIV/AIDS

United Nations - April 18, 2002

Geneva, 18 April 2002 - UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by the Government of South Africa to scale up its programme to fight HIV/AIDS in the country. As a result of this comprehensive programme, people living with HIV/AIDS will have greater access to treatment for opportunistic infections; sexual assault victims will, for the first time, be offered a comprehensive package of care, including voluntary counselling and testing; and in line with the temporary ruling of the Constitutional Court, HIV-infected pregnant women will be administered nevirapine to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to their infant. Greater assistance will also be given to families affected by HIV/AIDS and home and community-based care programmes will be strengthened.

"The South African government's investment in expanding the HIV/AIDS care programmes and intensifying the awareness campaign for its citizens underscores its increasing commitment to effectively combat the epidemic," said Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director. "It is hoped that the government's new sense of urgency will strengthen its efforts to both maximise access to care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS as well as rape victims, and to educate young people about the risks of HIV."

South Africa has allocated significant resources to fight HIV/AIDS by almost tripling its budget in the current financial year to US$89 million, and it is expected to increase its budget to US$161 million for the 2004-2005 financial year.

UNAIDS reaffirms its commitment to continue working in partnership with the South African government and other stakeholders in curbing the spread of the epidemic.

_______________________________

For more information, please contact Anne Winter, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791 4577, Dominique de Santis, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791 4509 or Andrew Shih, UNAIDS, New York, (+ 1 212) 584 5024. You may also visit the UNAIDS Website for more information about the programme (http://www.unaids.org).


020418
UN020401

Copyright © 2002 - Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). All rights reserved. UNAIDS articles, which are not formal publications of UNAIDS, may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced or translated, in part or in full, provided the source is acknowledged. The documents may not be sold or used in conjunction with commercial purposes without prior written approval from UNAIDS (contact: UNAIDS Information Centre).

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, iMetrikus, Inc., the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2002. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2002. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.