Driefontein - In a bid to reduce the rate of new HIV infections, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has committed to perform 1 000 male circumcisions in Mpumalanga by 2015.
Motsoaledi was addressing the Driefontein community during World Aids Day.
Mpumalanga has the second highest HIV prevalence rate after KwaZulu-Natal.
"I don't think you want to keep the status of being the second province with the highest HIV prevalence in the country. I'm sure you are prepared to win this battle like KZN, where 70 000 males have been circumcised," said Motsoaledi.
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza said they had already begun the process, with 50 males being circumcised on Monday and 157 on Tuesday.
Echoing Motsoaledi's sentiments, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said that based on evidence from research conducted in South Africa, medical male circumcision reduced the risk of HIV transmission by as much as 60 percent.
"Through expanding the male circumcision programme, we can reduce the rate of new HIV infections in this province. With the strong and bold leadership of the Premier, the MEC and all our critical leadership, this ... can be a means to demonstrate our will and determination to reduce new HIV infections in Mpumalanga," Motlanthe said, thanking the traditional leaders for supporting the initiative.
As part of celebrating World AIDS Day, Motlanthe joined by Dr Motsoaledi, Mabuza and mayors, had earlier in the day visited some families in Driefontein, where he engaged with the community and handed over blankets and mattresses to needy families.
During the visits, families also got an opportunity to raise their concerns and asked for government's assistance.
Themed 'We are Responsible', this year's World Aids Day addresses the collective responsibility of all South Africans to influence and support partners, family and community members to voluntary test for HIV and set an example by leading healthier lifestyles.
In order to facilitate these actions, government has begun a series of community dialogues, which aim to engage people in their communities to better understand their needs and challenges around HIV and AIDS.
These targets focus on preventing new infections and providing care and support to the overwhelming majority of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
