Deputy President Thabo Mbeki will chair a crisis AIDS summit this Friday, September 11, calling upon the leaders of South African society to mobilise their resources in a combined effort to combat the world's fastest growing AIDS epidemic.
A cross-section of over 200 leaders from eight different sectors - media religious bodies, the arts community, education, sport and recreation, business and labour, community and NGO, and government - have been invited to attend the conference at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.
"AIDS has emerged as a challenge which requires that we mount a joint national offensive for our own survival," says Deputy President Mbeki. "This requires a new, focused initiative that builds on the work being done currently at various levels, but that can also make the maximum impact on stemming the tide of the epidemic."
The key message of the summit is that AIDS is no longer just a health problem but the most serious crisis ever to face South Africa, with the potential to devastate this country's economic and social reforms. Over three million South Africans are infected and living with the disease, with an estimated 1 500 new infections taking place every day - about 60 percent of them among youth between the ages of 15-25.
For further information please contact: Joel Netshitenzhe, GCIS Tel: (012) 3142127 - Cell: 0828958714
Faizal Dawjee, GCIS Tel: (012) 314 2133 - Cell: 0828958714
Sonti Maseko, Meropa Communications Tel: (011) 784 1008