Mabuza concerned about adolescent children contracting HIV

7th December 2021 By: Yvonne Silaule - Contributor

Mabuza concerned about adolescent children contracting HIV

Deputy President David Mabuza

Deputy President David Mabuza reiterated his call for Aids Council structures to fight Covid-19, TB and HIV/Aids while expressing concern that children at the adolescent stage were at a greater risk of contracting HIV.

He was speaking in his capacity as the chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council, chairperson of the inter-Ministerial committee on Covid-19 vaccines and patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement, which led an outreach programme on HIV, TB and Covid-19 vaccines in Mpumalanga, on Tuesday. 

This outreach is a continuation of a series of engagements that Mabuza has had with civil society, inter-faith leaders, traditional leaders, traditional health practitioners and the private sector. 

The objective is to mobilise stakeholders for their active participation in the country's response to HIV and Aids, TB, sexually transmitted infections and Covid-19 vaccination programme.

This outreach is a continuation of a series of engagements the Deputy President has had with civil society, inter-faith leaders, traditional leaders, traditional health practitioners and the private sector. 

“It is now clear that Covid-19 will be here for a while and therefore we need to integrate our system deliveries and platforms in such a way that the fight against HIV/Aids and TB continues to receive our attention within the broader context of our Covid-19 response. We need to continue directing our resources in the fight against the pandemics,” Mabuza said.