By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi implored men to lead the fight against HIV/AIDS by getting tested and receiving care.
Motsoaledi was speaking during the launch of the HIV Treatment Campaign aimed at reaching 1.1 million people by the end of December 2025, at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Community Hall in Soweto, on Tuesday.
Statistics have revealed a significant gender gap in HIV treatment and testing.
Statistics show that 65% of those tested in a 2010 campaign were women, underscoring the need for increased male participation.
He officially launched the campaign in collaboration with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and other stakeholders in the health sector.
The drive is part of the country’s ongoing interventions to enhance the uptake of life-saving HIV treatment to ensure 95% of people diagnosed with HIV receive and adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART) to achieve viral suppression.
South Africa has 7.8 million people living with HIV and AIDS, and 7.5 million of them know their status, while at least 5.9 million are on ARV treatment.
The country is making progress towards achieving the ambitious targets, but despite these remarkable achievements, significant challenges persist regarding prevention, treatment initiation, adherence to ART, and retention in care.
The campaign also aims to build on past successes in eradicating diseases like smallpox and polio, emphasising the need for collective will and action.
The Minister urged action against tuberculosis (TB), citing the history of neglecting other diseases.
“We have known the existence of TB since 1882. But other diseases [we] were able to get rid of them. For instance, the world got rid of smallpox after it achieved 300 million people because there were campaigns to get rid of it. There was a vaccine, but that vaccine did not just get into the bodies of people. Men and women stood up and ran through the whole length and breadth of the world, the whole corner of the world and vaccinated people.”
He used the platform to urge everyone, particularly men, to take an active role in contributing to this important battle.
Motsoaledi said government has big plans to turn the tide on HIV/Aids by 2030, in line with the target set by delegates at the International Aids Conference in Australia.
The 2030 goal coincides with the deadline for targets set out in the National Development Plan.