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"This substantial donation comes at a time when experts are warning that the global financial crisis and a loss of interest in the Aids epidemic may, in coming years, translate into less money for research, treatment and prevention of the virus as the pandemic slips off the international agenda.

The ACDP is encouraged by evidence of significant progress being made in South Africa, in fighting the HIV & AIDS pandemic, which we attribute largely to governments new approach to this very serious matter. South Africa's life expectancy is 48.9, lower than Madagascar, Eritrea, Sudan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Gabon and DRC amongst others and we cannot afford to take our situation lightly.

The ACDP welcomes new developments in Kwa-Zulu Natal, where one third of the 7000 000 people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in South Africa, reside. A recent assessment, however estimates that about 115 000 more people in the province should be on ARV treatment. With this in mind the early success of a system of roving teams of doctors and nurses visiting clinics to prepare people to enroll in the antiretroviral drugs treatment programme is to be applauded. The initiative is proving successful in reducing waiting time for ARVs.

Early treatment reduces costs involved in treating AIDS patients by averting the serious illnesses that inevitably develop in time without ARVs and the ACDP hopes the success of this system will lead to similar action being implemented throughout the country.

While the causative factors surrounding the contracting of AIDS continue to be argued amongst scientists, early ARV treatment is proving to be successful in reducing its impact - this is also in line with the sweeping new changes to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines about AIDS treatment which recommend that people with HIV, including pregnant women, should start taking antiretroviral drugs earlier to live a longer and healthier life.

The ACDP has promoted HIV AIDS prevention programs since 1999, some of which the ANC is at last adopting or at least talking about! One example is circumcision. It is imperative that men's health and education be brought into focus as most health campaigns and education have focused mainly on women. Women, we know are not always in a position to negotiate control over their own bodies. We also know that most HIV positive women in sub-Saharan Africa have only ever had one sexual partner. It is imperative that major prevention campaigns, education and behaviour modification be re-focused on men."