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