Feature story

UNAIDS reiterates critical role of South Africa in AIDS response

09 September 2011

Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty of South Africa (left) and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.
Geneva, 07 September 2011.

During a meeting with the newly appointed Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé highlighted the critical role that South Africa has to play in the global response to HIV.

“When South Africa succeeds in reaching the target of zero new HIV infections among children, in reducing sexual transmission of HIV, in securing HIV treatment for the people who need it, the scale of the global epidemic will radically altered,” said Mr Sidibé.

The meeting took place at the UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva on 7 September 2011 and proved an opportunity to sketch a plan of action to broaden the collaboration between South Africa and UNAIDS in responding to HIV. This collaboration has already sparked ground-breaking initiatives such as South Africa’s HIV counselling and testing campaign designed to test 15 million people by the end of 2011.

The meeting was also an opportunity for UNAIDS Executive Director to discuss his forthcoming official visit South Africa as well as important south-south cooperation initiatives, involving Brazil, China, India, Russia and other countries as well as institutions such as the Africa Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development.