Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Business Day (South Africa) (10.30.09) - Monday, November 02, 2009
Wyndham Hartley
Zuma spoke to members of parliament and premiers in the same chamber where, almost 10 years ago, former President Thabo Mbeki first articulated his denial that HIV causes AIDS.
Research by Statistics South Africa and other agencies shows that 60 percent of deaths in the nation were among people under age 50, Zuma said. Deaths were up 32 percent in 2008 - when there were 756,000 - over the previous year.
"These are some of the chilling statistics that demonstrate the devastating impact that HIV and AIDS is having on our nation," Zuma said. "Not even the youngest are spared. Some studies suggest that 57 percent of the deaths of children under the age of five during 2007 were as a result of HIV."
"This situation is aggravated by the high tuberculosis prevalence," said Zuma. "The coinfection rate between HIV and TB has now reached a staggering 73 percent." "And though we have the largest antiretroviral program in the world, we are not yet winning this battle."
HIV should be treated like any other disease, and "there should be no shame, no discrimination, no recriminations," Zuma said. "We must break the stigma surrounding AIDS."
"I have instructed the minister of health, as we prepare for World AIDS Day, to provide further details to the nation on the impact of HIV and AIDS on our people," said Zuma. "The important factor is that our people must be armed with information. Knowledge will help us to confront denialism and the stigma attached to the epidemic."
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