Cosatu welcomes HIV statistics 03-08-07

 

COSATU welcome HIV statistics

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the latest statistics on HIV-infection figures, which suggest that at long last the rate of new infections among pregnant women may be at least levelling off. In the words of Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, we "may be at a point where we should begin to witness a downward trend". There are, she says, "pleasing signs of change in the right direction".

It is too early to proclaim victory over the virus; the level of infection is still far too high, with over 5 million people estimated to have HIV. There is however reason for optimism that we are moving forwards after years in which the situation was getting steadily worse.

The statistics suggest that the pandemic may be starting to go down for the first time since 1990. Last year the national HIV prevalence fell from 30,2% to 29,1% with "significant" declines in infections in young pregnant women under 24 years. Infections in women under 20 years have continued to decline from 16,1% in 2004 and 15,9% in 2005 to 13,7% now. Prevalence among women between 20 and 24 years had dropped by 2,6%.

The main reason for this progress is the new spirit of national unity in the war against HIV/Aids between government and civil society which was forged in the latter part of 2006, culminating in the announcement of the National HIV Strategy on 1 December 2006, World Aids Day. We have a new, much better programme for the prevention and treatment of the virus and the restructuring of the SA National Aids Council to make it more representative.

This unity has finally put an end to the earlier mixed messages about the scale of the infections and questioning of the urgency of rolling out anti-retroviral treatment. It has drawn every South African into a concerted fight. It is vital that this new national consensus be maintained and further strengthened.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017

P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg, 2000
SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667
Cell: 0828217456
E-Mail: patr...@cosatu.org.za