14 December 2010

U.S. Signs New Partnership with South Africa Against HIV/AIDS

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton signed a five-year joint strategic plan with her South African counterpart on bilateral cooperation under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and said the United States wants to be “a good partner” with South Africa as it confronts HIV/AIDS.

In remarks with South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane at the State Department December 14, Clinton said the South African government’s efforts to prevent and treat the disease have made a new level of cooperation possible.

“South Africa is turning the tide against HIV/AIDS,” Clinton said. “We are already reviewing surveys being done with the South African government … that show HIV among youth is falling.”

According to a January 2010 fact sheet (PDF, 395KB) on the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria website, approximately 5.7 million South Africans are believed to be living with HIV and AIDS, making it one of the countries most affected by the disease. The fact sheet said that between 2004 and January 2010, South Africa had received approximately $6.2 billion through PEPFAR, and the Obama administration would be providing an additional $120 million donation over two years to pay for anti-retroviral drugs.

Clinton recalled South African President Jacob Zuma’s December 2009 remarks when he said HIV/AIDS would be overcome only by individuals who choose to take responsibility for their own lives and the lives of those around them.

“What South Africa has done is to make a tremendous commitment by doubling its investment, now covering 60 percent of the total spending,” Clinton said. “There is so much that is being done at the grass-roots level on prevention, efforts against discrimination, treating people with HIV and doing so much more to put together a comprehensive strategy.”

South African and American scientists also have been collaborating on the development of a microbicide to prevent HIV transmission. “It’s the kind of new partnership we want to see more of together,” she said.

Nkoana-Mashabane said that through PEPFAR, 1.1 million South Africans now are in HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs. More than 5 million have been tested for the disease, with 15 million more tests anticipated over the next 18 months, she said.

“This partnership and the PEPFAR … really is turning the tide at home,” she said.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)