S. Africa Wants Int’l AIDS Conference to Yield Meaningful Solutions — Presidency

Cape Town — South Africa is confident that the upcoming 21st International AIDS Conference will yield meaningful solutions for the global community to create the conditions for an AIDS free generation, the Presidency said on Sunday.

South Africa is to host the conference in Durban on July 18-22. Over 12,000 delegates from 180 countries around the world are expected to attend the conference, organized around the theme “Access Equity Rights- Now,” under the banner of the International AIDS Society.

This theme is in alignment with South Africa’s view that inclusive health care is a constitutional right.

“Coinciding with the Nelson Mandela Day, South Africa’s message to the Conference will be premised on the late former President’s clarion call that ‘it is in our hands’ to achieve an HIV-free generation in our lifetime,” the Presidency said in a statement.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will lead the South African government delegation and deliver an opening address at the conference.

President Jacob Zuma has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) under the leadership of Minister Jeff Radebe to ensure South Africa’s successful hosting of the conference.

This is the second time that South Africa will host the International AIDS conference which brings together scientists and leaders of government, civil society and the private sector.

Durban was chosen as the venue for this year’s conference because of the tremendous progress South Africa has made since the last Durban conference held in 2000 and is now regarded as a world leader in the efforts to tackle the HIV epidemic, said the Presidency.

The conference will thus provide South Africa with an opportunity to highlight its globally acclaimed program aimed at combating the HIV epidemic, said Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesperson for Ramaphosa.

South Africa will also utilize the conference to share its lessons with the international community about how it is currently implementing the largest ARV program in the world with 3.4 million people on treatment, said Mamoepa. (PNA/Xinhua) BNB/EBP