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The DA Youth welcomes and observes World Aids Day as an opportunity for South Africans to unite and increase awareness around HIV/AIDS and the serious risks of unprotected sex. We also welcome the government's ‘know your status' campaign and plans to make HIV/AIDS a notifiable disease. Now that the time of AIDS denialism is over, we need to ensure that South Africa adopts the right policies to tackle the epidemic, and to fight the stigma surrounding AIDS. It is particularly welcome that leaders like Helen Zille have taken the opportunity to take HIV tests today. This sets an important example for South Africans. I will also make sure I am tested today. Periodic testing is crucial for the early detection and treatment of this disease. HIV/AIDS continues to have a devastating effect on the youth and I call on the President to put this issue at the top of the government's health agenda. The youth (aged between 15 and 24 years of age as per the World Health Organisation definition) makes up 23 % of the population in South Africa and is particularly vulnerable as a result of the socio-economic nature of the disease. The sad reality is that orphans and child headed households are on the increase due to one or more parents dying from complications associated with the disease. Between 2002 and 2007 the number of children living in child headed households rose by 25% and by 2015, 32% of all children in the country would have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. These shocking statistics show the impact of the ANC government's years of AIDS denialism and the fact is that enough is still not being done to prevent or combat this disease. Further education and awareness, as well as the effective implementation of well thought out plans and policies, is sorely needed.