UN commends SA on Aids
25 September 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has commended South Africa for tripling its resource allocation for HIV-Aids programmes since 2001.
Annan, delivering his report to the UN General Assembly's special session on HIV-Aids in New York on Tuesday, said: "This year, the government of South Africa has tripled its investment in HIV-Aids programmes to $89-million, with spending projected to reach nearly double that level in 2004."
The session was convened to evaluate the progress made by countries in implementing the commitments and reaching the targets of the 2001 UN Declaration on HIV-Aids.
"Most countries are increasing their financial commitment to HIV-Aids programmes, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where domestic allocation has grown," Annan said.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang told the Assembly that South Africa's government "is keeping its political commitment to allocate the necessary resources to fight
HIV-Aids, TB and sexually transmitted infections".
She said that 15% percent of the national health budget of R40-billion is spent on curbing the spread and reducing the impact of HIV-Aids.
"We have budgeted a further R3.3-billion as a conditional grant for home-based care, voluntary counselling and testing, prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission of HIV, life skills and step-down facilities," the minister added.
"We are currently investigating the cost and social implications of providing antiretroviral therapy in the public sector and the investment needed over and above the existing public health care infrastructure," she said, adding that South Africa had "turned the corner" in the fight against HIV-Aids.
The level of awareness about HIV-Aids had increased significantly over the past few years, resulting in behavioural change especially among teenagers, she said.
The minister added that more than two-thirds of pregnant women had access to the
prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission programme, and that triple therapy was being provided to survivors of sexual assault as part of a comprehensive package of support.
Source: BuaNews
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