Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - October 3, 2006
"This pandemic is destroying lives. We want to save lives, but we can't do it on our own," the Reverend Desmond Lesejane said.
He was addressing the media and representatives of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African National Non-Governmental Organisation Coalition (Sangoco) in Johannesburg.
"The struggle for treatment is not just an issue for the TAC. It affects everyone, so we all have to fight this together," he said.
Lesejane said a two-day national conference on HIV/Aids would be held later this month to address issues around the pandemic and to mobilise support in the fight against HIV/Aids.
He said the conference, aimed at preventing and treating HIV, was in response to calls by the government for unity and partnership in the fight against HIV/Aids.
TAC leader Zackie Achmat said the conference would help the government, support groups and civil society to work together to find solutions for HIV prevention and treatment, care and support, and for the restructuring of the South African National Aids Council.
He said there was an urgent need to build a health-care system that was equipped to handle the HIV/Aids crisis in the country.
"Enough is enough. We have a job to do.
"We fully support this conference. We want to cut in half the number of [HIV/Aids-related] deaths, if not eliminate them," Achmat said.
Sangoco executive director Zanele Twala added: "The struggle has been left too much to the TAC."
She said civil society needed to stand up and make its voice heard.
"HIV has no colour, gender or creed. Sangoco lends its full backing and support to the conference because we need to take up the struggle together."
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