Motlanthe chairs SA National Aids Council meeting

Deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe chaired the SA National Aids Council on Tuesday in Rustenburg, the presidency said.

The meeting discussed issues including a report on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan 2012/2013.

"South Africa has met the ten global targets set by the United Nations aimed at reducing HIV infections by 50% by 2015, Motlanthe said.

Motlanthe said South Africa’s anti-retroviral treatment programme now reaches more than two million people making it the largest HIV treatment in the world.

"South Africa is also on track to achieve the target of further reduction and eventual elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child by 2015."

Motlanthe informed the meeting that South Africa had received R3 billion from the Global Fund, earmarked for supporting HIV and TB programmes.

"The fund will provide support to antiretroviral treatment for 350 000 patients and screening for more than 400 000 miners and communities in the surrounding areas," Motlanthe said.

Sanac would also intensify efforts in HIV-counselling and testing to encourage more people to know their status.