Throughout the world, 1 December is known as World Aids Day. This year, in South Africa, the theme for this day is Get wise. Get tested. Get circumcised.

In the various campaigns since 2009, South African has demonstrated that:

    • I am responsible, by testing for HIV
    • We are responsible, by addressing the epidemic in sectors and communities
    • South Africa is taking responsibility, by launching a National Strategic Plan (NSP) that culminated in a Policy in Action on TB and HIV (Path) Campaign (The Path Campaign will ensure that the NSP takes into account our needs as individuals, families and communities regarding HIV, Aids and TB.)
    • Let’s play safe against new HIV, TB and STI infections.

In 2013, South Africans are again requested to take responsibility while we:
Get wise. Get tested. Get circumcised.

The South African National Aids Council gives the following advice on how South Africans can respond to this year’s theme:

As an individual

    • Everyone should know his or her HIV status by testing regularly for HIV
    • Every man should go for medical male circumcision
    • Young people must delay having sex for the first time until they are older
    • Sexually active people must be faithful to their partners and use condoms each time they have sex
    • People must make informed choices and prevent unwanted pregnancies
    • Pregnant women must test for HIV early in their pregnancy and use condoms each time they have sex
    • Those with TB must test for HIV and those with HIV must test for TB so that they can get the right treatment.

As a community

    • Communities must stop stigma and discrimination around HIV and support those who want to know their status
    • Communities must stop stigma and discrimination around medical male circumcision and support those who want to go for medical male circumcision
    • Communities must provide care and support to those living with and affected by HIV, in particular, orphans and vulnerable children
    • Men, women, families, communities and health care workers must support pregnant women to protect their children from HIV
    • Communities must take action and speak out against violence against women
    • Couples must talk about their relationships and how they can protect themselves from HIV and STI infection by being faithful and only having sex with each other. Couples must discuss HIV testing and medical male circumcision and to go for regular HIV testing together.

As a country

The responsibility falls on government and all sectors of society represented in the South African National Aids Council to provide leadership to ensure that:

    • Every South African knows how and can prevent HIV infection
    • Every South African knows his or her HIV status
    • Pregnant women can access Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV services
    • All those with TB can access TB drugs and all HIV-positive people can access care and anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.

So, once again, I am responsible, we are responsible, South Africa is taking responsibility.

 

Source
South African National Aids Council, 2013