FIGHTING TOWARDS AN HIV-FREE WORLD
WORLD Aids Day is a day of commemoration in as much as it is a day of action. It is a call to all our people to know their status, to care for their well-being, and to take responsibility for their health and the health of others.
The fight against HIV and Aids can never be won without considerable effort, hard work and dedication. It cannot be won without human agency, change in behaviour and in managing the expression of our sexual identity.
It is a day that demands of all of us to pause, to think and reflect to ensure that no matter our station in life, no matter our age, no matter our class or gender, we all take responsibility by testing for HIV, TB, cancer and other ailments. It calls on us to take preventive measures as a first stance in tackling this pandemic.
Equally, today we are entering a new era, an era of empowerment in knowing our status. Checka Impilo!
Today marks 30 years since the first World Aids Day was held in London in 1988.
Our fight against HIV and Aids throughout the years has had many ebbs, challenges and flows.
This has been a long and arduous journey.
Though we stand proud, tall and on a pedestal, with our achievements so profound – the road ahead remains long, but not difficult. It is still winding and challenging; with its pitfalls, potholes and rough edges in abundance.
Yet we are determined to walk this last mile of the way of a seemingly distant future, a future of infinite possibility, a future of an HIV-free world.
To date, our country has initiated 4.3 million South Africans on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in the public sector, with an additional 235 000 in the private sector.
This is not a solo achievement by the state. It is rather a collective achievement from the courageous struggles of great men and women around the world.
It is a sign of their courage and conviction not to cower from confronting this pandemic with science, sensibility and comprehensive research.
They remain today, as they were yesterday, as it will be tomorrow, the lodestars who will inflame our commitment to fight HIV for generations to come.
In their memory, and commitment to their legacy, we will leave no stone unturned to create an HIV-free world.
As a government we are too well aware that our responsibility is to provide leadership, vision and policy solutions to take us forward.
We are also aware that the needs of a society always determine its values, just as its leadership must show foresight and vision.
For when governments fail, the people fail.
Where healthcare is dysfunctional, people die. Families are decimated by preventable and manageable diseases. National development is curtailed.
This imposes on us a national imperative to ensure that healthcare is affordable, is efficient, is not overburdened and is of the best quality possible.
We are committed to rooting out inefficiency, laxity and dysfunction from our health system.
We seek to screen and test 14 million people for HIV and
TB, and 7 million for high blood pressure and diabetes. This will help us to add an additional 2 million HIV infected people to the existing 4.3 million already receiving ARVs by December 2020.
It is all in your hands. It all begins with you, with me, and with everybody.
On this World Aids Day let us celebrate those who have taken the first step.
It is my sincere belief that the end of HIV is within reach, and a better tomorrow is upon us.
Keynote address in Soweto by Deputy President David Mabuza on the occasion of World Aids Day this past Saturday