November 30, 2010 – According to new research by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Sub-Saharan Africa has made immense progress in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Research findings suggest that in the majority of countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, the epidemic is stabilising or decreasing. In 2001 there were 2.2-million people newly infected with HIV within the region. In 2009 the number had dropped to 1.8-million.
The report also found that in the four countries with the most severe epidemics – South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia and Zimbabwe – new HIV infections have been reduced by at least 25%.
Despite these gains, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of the epidemic – 68% of all HIV-positive people live within the region. South Africa continues to have the world’s largest rate of infection, with some 5.6-million HIV-positive residents.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation, through the Mandela Day initiative, is committed to efforts to overcome the epidemic, and makes a point of commemorating World AIDS Day on December 1 every year, encouraging people all over the world to do the same.
Mandela Day is a day of international public service and calls on people across the globe to spend at least 67 minutes doing some form of community service, in honour of the 67 years that Mr Mandela spent fighting for social justice and human rights.
Mandela Day was originally launched on July 18, Nelson Mandela’s birthday, but in the spirit of social activism the Foundation encourages citizens of the world to make every day a Mandela Day. As part of the Foundation’s ongoing Mandela Day commitment, the Centre for Memory and Dialogue community conversations focus on HIV prevention and facilitate dialogue on this critical social issue.
This year, to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1, the Foundation will be convening dialogues around the country to get South Africans talking about the effects of the virus and how to prevent its spread.
The main dialogue event will be taking place in KwaMakhutha on Wednesday December 1, 2010.
World AIDS Day was originally launched in 1988 as a means to raise awareness around HIV/AIDS. At the time there was very little known about the virus and December 1 was set aside as a day to raise awareness and fight prejudice and stigma that surrounded the epidemic.
Despite our increased understanding of the virus, there is still the need to raise awareness. In 2010 the focus for World AIDS Day is on universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, recognising these as fundamental human rights, and the Foundation will be hosting 11 community conversations.
Conversations with all be held on and around December 1 and will focus on South Africans taking responsibility for addressing the epidemic.
Yase Godlo, co-ordinator for the Foundation’s Dialogue Programme, said: “During these community conversations participants will be given safe space to reflect on the work they have achieved during this year’s monthly community conversations meetings and commit as individuals, as communities and as a nation to taking responsibility for the concerns of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.”
To find out when and where these community conversations are taking place, download a full schedule here.