World Aids Day 2012: Getting to Zero | Western Cape Government

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World Aids Day 2012: Getting to Zero

30 November 2012

World Aids Day is commemorated every year to highlight the dangers of the epidemic and continue the awareness campaigns to minimise new infections. The theme for this year is: is “Getting to Zero”. The theme seeks to encourage individuals and communities to have a non-discriminatory and non-judgemental access to adequate HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

A new World AIDS Day report: Results, by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), shows that unprecedented acceleration in the AIDS response is producing results for people.

Declining New HIV infections in children
The area where most progress is being made is in reducing new HIV infections in children. Half of the global reductions in new HIV infections in the last two years have been among new-born children.

Fewer AIDS-Related Deaths 
The report shows that antiretroviral therapy has emerged as a powerful force for saving lives. In the last 24 months the number of people accessing treatment has increased by 63% globally.

Goals for 2015

To commemorate this year’s World Aids Day, the Western Cape Government has incorporated all related initiatives into the ‘Infectious Diseases Season’ which runs from November 2013 to January 2013. The campaign’s main focus will be the youth.

A pre-campaign awareness programme was rolled out during September across the province whereupon adults were exposed to the realities of youth vulnerability. The intention was to get them to understand youth issues such as drug abuse and peer pressure and to ultimately assist young people in accessing government services.

  • Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work;
  • Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced by half;
  • All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs;
  • Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment;
  • TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half;
  • All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support;
  • HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses;
  • Zero tolerance for gender-based violence.

For more information, contact:

Juanita Arendse
Director: HIV/Aids and TB
Tel: 0214835751
E-mail: Juanita.Arendse@westerncape.gov.za

Source: http://www.un.org

 

Media Enquiries: 

Angelique Jordaan
Principal Communications Officer: Head Office
Tel: 021 483 3563
Cell: 084 293 6277
E-mail: Angelique.Jordaan@westerncape.gov.za