South Africa Redoubles Efforts Against AIDS

Hoping to reverse the effects of years of denial and delay, South Africa has launched an ambitious new initiative to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. "It's the first time one country has scaled up so quickly, to so many people," said UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe.

Among the highlights of the new outreach:

*In the past month, the government has enabled 519 health centers to dispense AIDS medications, more than the combined total in all the years since 2004, when the government first began providing antiretrovirals (ARVs).

*The government has trained hundreds of nurses to prescribe HIV drugs; they will, in turn, train thousands more so that each of the nation's 4,333 public clinics can provide the medicines. This is seen as a crucial step, given the country's shortage of physicians.

*The South African Finance Ministry has budgeted an extra $1 billion to put one million more people on treatment in the coming years - roughly doubling the current caseload.

*Thanks to kits provided by the government, hundreds of private pharmacies will offer free HIV testing during the next year. More than 2,000 retired health care professionals have volunteered to assist with the testing drive.

*The Clinton Foundation, which has helped other African nations negotiate steep discounts for AIDS drugs, is now advising Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi. He recently told Parliament that despite opposition from local drug makers, "We must be able to purchase ARVs at the lowest prices, as we are the largest consumers" of the medications.

*Motsoaledi said the nation also is keen to slow new infections, now occurring at a rate of 1,500 a day, through stepped-up condom distribution and other interventions. A drive is underway to circumcise 2.5 million men in KwaZulu Natal, the province hit hardest by HIV. President Jacob Zuma said the procedure, which the World Health Organization says can reduce the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission by more than half, will be offered across the country by next year.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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