CAPE TOWN — In the most emphatic acknowledgement yet by a president that HIV/AIDS posed a massive threat to the nation, yesterday called for mass mobilisation against the pandemic which is killing more and more South Africans, particularly the young.
Zuma moved to put the AIDS denialism of former president firmly in the past when he addressed the National Council of Provinces yesterday.
Ironically, and no doubt intentionally, Zuma chose to stress the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the chamber where Mbeki first articulated his view that HIV did not cause AIDS almost 10 years ago.
In a sombre warning, Zuma told MPs and premiers that SA was in danger of the number of deaths each year outstripping the number of births and “if we do not respond with urgency and resolve, we may well find our vision of a thriving nation slipping from our grasp”.
He said research from the Department of Health, the Human Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, Statistics SA and other sources showed that 60% of deaths in the country were of people younger than 50 years . Deaths last year were 32% higher than in 2007 with a total of 756000.
“These are some of the chilling statistics that demonstrate the devastating impact that HIV and AIDS is having on our nation. Not even the youngest are spared. Some studies suggest that 57% of the deaths of children under the age of five during 2007 were as a result of HIV.
“This situation is aggravated by the high tuberculosis prevalence. The co-infection rate between HIV and TB has now reached a staggering 73%,” Zuma said. While SA did have a comprehensive strategy to combat the disease “and though we have the largest antiretroviral programme in the world, we are not yet winning this battle”.
“We must come to terms with this reality as South Africans.”
Zuma, in what was a clear reference to the AIDS sceptics, said the disease should be treated like any other and “there should be no shame, no discrimination, no recriminations. We must break the stigma surrounding AIDS”.
“I have instructed the minister of health, as we prepare for World Aids Day, to provide further details to the nation on the impact of HIV and AIDS on our people….
“The important factor is that our people must be armed with information. Knowledge will help us to confront denialism and the stigma attached to the epidemic.”
hartleyw@bdfm.co.za