Today, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, and chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, convened the first SANAC plenary of 2012.
The plenary, as the highest decision making body of SANAC, this morning was briefed on key issues pertaining to the National Strategic Plan (NSP), 2012 to 2016, SANAC governance related matters, and the upcoming World TB Day (WTBD) commemorations on the 24 March.
The meeting was presented with an overview of the process involved in ensuring that AIDS Councils, from ward level to the national level, are aligned in their response to the National Strategic Plan. The meeting adopted the roadmap towards achieving the desired outcomes at the end of year one. Year one will focus on the areas of programme implementation, resource mobilisation and ensuring that there is sufficient capacity to manage the implementation of the National Strategic Plan 2012 to 2016.
Over the period of five years, the National Strategic Plan provides a guide as to how to address the various factors that drive the TB and HIV epidemics. The National Strategic Plan focuses on the four key areas of addressing the structural and social barriers to the epidemics; prevention of new infections, treatment for all those in need and addressing the human rights barriers that drive the epidemic.
The meeting further endorsed the convening of a national civil society consultation towards the development of the governance structures for the AIDS councils in the country.
On the 24 March, during the World TB Day commemorations at the Goldfields KDC West Mines in Carletonville, the Deputy President will launch the NSP implementation plans that will guide South Africa’s response in addressing the impact of TB and HIV.
The WTBD commemoration will begin on the 23 March 2012, with the Minister of Health, Dr Motsoaledi and Gerry Elsdon in a walk from Auckland Park where they will be talking to drivers and commuters about prevention of TB and HIV.
For more information please contact:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087
Junaid Seedat
Cell: 082 435 1321
