Minister launches major testing campaign

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PRESS RELEASE

Media Statement: Outline of the national HIV Counselling and Testing

(HCT) Campaign

Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health

I wish to begin by taking this opportunity to remind the nation that in August 2009 the distinguished medical journal The Lancet revealed that South Africa is apparently facing a quadruple pandemic, meaning we are going through four different pandemics.

ï· HIV/AIDS and TB; South Africa is only 0.7% of the world population, but we are carrying 17% of the global HIV burden, and 1 out of every 100 South Africans has TB.

ï· The second pandemic is that of maternal, infant and under 5 mortality.

ï· The third pandemic is violence and injury, and

ï· The fourth pandemic is that of non’communicable diseases ‘ high blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer.

As a result of this and other research reports, on the 11th of March 2010, the Cabinet announced that the country intends to launch a massive HCT campaign. This was a decision taken at the Cabinet fortnightly meeting.

This groundbreaking decision was part of a process to take forward the 2009 World

AIDS Day announcements by the President and to try to help us achieve the targets of the National Strategic Plan on HIV, AIDS and STIs. To remind those of us who might have forgotten, on that day last year, the President announced a new

approach to HIV and AIDS, in terms of a massive prevention and HIV testing promotion strategy, as well as new treatment protocols.

Read the rest of the press release attached.

Listen to an excerpt of the press briefing also attached

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Health-e News
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