The South Africa National AIDS Council (SANAC), under the leadership of Deputy President David Mabuza, is set to discuss the common message that South Africa will take to the 22nd International AIDS Conference.
The conference is scheduled for 23 - 27 July 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The biennial conference is organised by the International AIDS Society which includes researchers from various disciplines, medical professionals, public health as well as community practitioners and policy planners.
The discussions will take place during the Extended Plenary Session by SANAC held in Polokwane, Limpopo on Friday.
In addition to discussing its common message, the SANAC session is set to receive an update on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan 2017-2022, regarding the social and structural drivers of HIV, TB and STIs.
According to the Deputy President, the key to achieving the plans set out in the National Strategic Plan is the functionality of SANAC.
“A major factor in successfully implementing the National Strategic Plan, is the functionality of the AIDS Councils at all levels, from national all the way to the ward level. Today our meeting will be apprised by our Premiers on progress made thus far in reaching the targets of the National Strategic Plan,” said the Deputy President.
The National Strategic Plan, which is aligned and guided by the National Development Plan, is a coordinated response to HIV, TB and STIs within the broader response to economic and social development.
In addition, the session will receive a progress report from the Provincial Councils on AIDS.
Currently, each of the country's nine provinces has its own provincial council on AIDS (PCA), chaired by the Premiers.
In his opening remarks at the session, Mabuza said reducing the burden of diseases such as HIV, TB and STIs will fast track development and address the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
“The efforts against these ills are mutually reinforcing as progress in reducing the burden of disease contributes to development, while faster development improves our ability to address the social and structural drivers of HIV, TB and STIs,” said Mabuza. – SAnews.gov.za
