Source: SABC
The Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the treatment and care of HIV positive people in South Africa will not be affected if the Global Fund goes ahead with the cancellation of grants for AIDS programmes in Africa.
He says South Africa pays for about 90 percent of its anti-retrovirals, therefore there should be no interruption in the provision of the drugs. Motsoaledi says it's wrong for African countries to keep depending on foreign funding to fight the disease.
HIV prevalence among pregnant women in South Africa has increased from 29.4% to 30.2%, according to the results of a national survey released by the Health Minister today.
More than five million people in the country live with HIV. They depend on international funds for the purchase of antiretroviral (ARV). Now, there are concerns over funding cutbacks but government wants to allay fears.
Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi says: "In South Africa we cannot say we are rich but we have started that program of being self-sufficient. I am quite confident that we are not going to be hearing about any province or any area not getting ARVs because of this global fund money."
More than five million people in the country live with HIV
The health minister has released results of the 2010 National Ante-natal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey. The survey shows that the HIV prevalence among pregnant women increased from 29.4 percent to 30.2 percent.
The percentage increase of infected pregnant women between the ages of 16 to 24 has stabilised but, there has been an upward spike in the 24 to 39-year-age group. KwaZulu-Natal has the highest prevalence of HIV infected pregnant women while the Northern and Western Cape are the lowest.
Motsoaledi adds: "HIV/Aids to me is a gender-based disease. It is a disease spread by men but women suffer and so we need to concentrate on those who spread it."
HIV prevalence in older women is attributed to a lack of ARVs and counseling while prevention methods are working among younger women.