06 April 2010
President Jacob Zuma will be the first to be tested when government launches their HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign on 15 April 2010*.
The HCT campaign aims to test more than 15 million citizens around the country by next year. The government argues that this target is achievable due to a R1.4 billion budget allocation and the recruitment of 4 000 retired healthcare staff to assist with the implementation of the campaign.
According to an article published on the website Student Village, Motsoaledi says that the campaign also aims to:
Have all government hospitals, clinics, universities and colleges providing HIV counselling and testing, and send mobile units to rural areas to test residents.
Hand out 1.5 billion condoms to 15 million people who will be tested at HIV/Aids centres.
Encourage male circumcision, with KwaZulu-Natal already pledging to conduct 2.5-million circumcisions by 2015.
The campaign has received
solid backing from the private sector. Discovery Medical Scheme has pledged R5 million towards the campaign, while Clicks and the Link Pharmacy Group have together made 470 pharmacy clinics available as venues for the testing.
The South African National Aids Council (Sanac) is also actively supporting the campaign. Sanac deputy chairperson Mark Heywood said that there will be regular monitoring and evaluating of the campaign and that it would not be neglected once it has launched.
* Postponed until 25 April 2010.
