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Today, the Gauteng Department of Health is commemorating the 17th Anniversary of the Partnership against HIV/AIDS. The partnership was launched in 1998 as part of the government’s concerted efforts to fight HIV/AIDS pandemic by calling upon all South Africans to join hands in the fight to save the nation.

“As we commemorate this momentous day and take stock of how far we have come as a nation – it is an opportune time for us all to reflect on what we have done individually to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS,” said Gauteng MEC for Health, Ms Qedani Mahlangu.

The MEC also took the opportunity to remind all of us that the power to defeat the spread of HIV/AIDS lies in our partnership across communities. In Gauteng; 65% of the population know their status, while 68% is on antiretroviral treatment, and 81% of those taking HIV treatment have their viral load suppressed.

Through the HIV and Counselling Testing campaign, the Gauteng Provincial Government will be collaborating with 18 Civil Sector organisations that are currently represented at Gauteng AIDS Council to test over a million people by the end of November 2015.

The campaign will be continued through a series of outreach activities that are scheduled for the months of October and November as part of the build up to World AIDS Day – December 1 2015 – which will be observed in Tshwane.

Issued by Gauteng Health