The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for the results of the 2008 Antenatal Clinic Survey, which have now been held back for several months. It is part of this government's ongoing neglect of the HIV/Aids epidemic that every year the DA has had to take action to have this report released.

The survey measures HIV levels in pregnant women attending clinics and is the one of the only sources of on-the-ground information there is on infection rates across South Africa. It is conducted every year. Prior to the tenure of Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, it was released regularly in March, but under Dr Tshabalala-Msimang it was released later and later as the department deprioritised the scientific measurement of HIV. For two years in a row the DA was forced to use the Promotion of Access to Information Act to have the report released, and we are now doing so for the third time.

We believe the information is ready, and that it is important information on which South Africa can evaluate its progress in combating this epidemic.

These surveys have shown that HIV prevalence in pregnant women increased steadily from 24.5% in 2000 to 30.2% in 2005. The 2006 and 2007 survey results suggested a slight decline in HIV prevalence, but experts argue that the figures were incorrectly weighted, and there was in fact an increase in prevalence between 2006 and 2007.

The figures suggest that an average of 1000 South Africans a day are still being infected. This survey will give us accurate, up-to-date information on whether or not we are in fact starting to make an impact on this epidemic, and it is vitally important that it be released.