Durban gears up for Aids conference

SOUTH Africa is ready to host the 21st International Aids Conference ( AIDS 2016) in Durban, the government has said.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on AIDS 2016 is satisfied South Africa and the global community can expect a productive and safe conference in Durban from July 18-22, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said.

He said the line-up for the opening ceremony reinforced the underlying character of the conference as embracing all sectors of society in South Africa and around the world that are waging the fight against HIV, Aids and tuberculosis.

The conference will bring together political leadership, civil society leadership, the scientific community, the donor sector and ordinary people committed to achieving an HIV-free generation, said Radebe.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will make the official opening address to set the tone for a conference that “will reignite advocacy in our own country and around the world, and will help us make new strides to secure in line with the conference theme-access, equity and rights for all people in our pursuit of prevention, treatment and the elimination of discrimination”..

Radebe said the IMC gave the assurance that this event, where close to 18 000 delegates are expected , would be safe. – Xinhua