SANAC Plenary was held on 8 November 2014, in Secunda in Mpumalanga Province. SANAC Plenary is the highest policy and decision making body on HIV in the country. This was the first Plenary meeting to be chaired by Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa. The Minister of Health, Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr David Mabusa, Provincial AIDS Council and health officials, and civil society organizations attended the plenary. There were approximately 400 people in attendance.
The Deputy President highlighted the importance of the meeting to the national HIV response in South Africa. “The SANAC Plenary is part of a vibrant community, and leads the country’s response on HIV. In the past years, the AIDS community, including civil society organisations, refused to give up on humanity. The world is a better place because of their activism, and this gives us optimism. However, there are still huge challenges, and we must face these. We have a bold vision for the future, which all should embrace. This goal is to end AIDS by 2030,” he said.
Ms Steve Letsike, civil society forum chairperson, highlighted the democratic culture, and culture of social service in South Africa. The National Strategic Plan on HIV, STIs and TB, 2012?2016 has a vision of South Africa getting to zero. She noted that human rights and access to justice are at the core of the HIV response and that civil society structures are needed now more than ever. It cannot be “business as usual”.
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health in South Africa, noted that he is now the Chairperson of the Global Stop TB Partnership. TB is a special concern in South Africa, which has the third highest TB prevalence in the world. The Minister reviewed the TB situation in South Africa and the high rates of TB among miners (especially gold miners) and to need to screen miners, their families, and communities surrounding the mines. The Minister also reviewed the HIV response in South Africa, including prevention and treatment targets and achievements. He noted the special need for more effective tackling of the social and structural drivers of HIV in South Africa.
“We have a bold vision for the future, which all should embrace. This goal is to end AIDS by 2030.”
During question and answer time, a number of questions were raised by the different civil society sectors in attendance. These included a call for action on safe circumcision, and endorsement by the Minister of Health; the need for increased TB screening; the declaration of TB as a national public health emergency; the need for a dynamic response on HIV, and for SANAC not to continue on a “business as usual” response. The need to revitalize HIV Counselling and Testing and behaviour change strategies was noted.
The Minister responded to the civil society questions by highlighting the importance of civil society and the need to work together with the government. There needs to be much stronger efforts at integration. For example, the effort to integrate HIV and TB, and create “one stop shops” in health clinics only began two years ago, and there are many challenges. Cultural issues such as traditional male circumcision are very sensitive and need to be handled carefully. The Minister noted that change is happening and much more needs to be done—together.
The Plenary also saw the announcement of the theme for World AIDS Day 2014 by Dr Fareed Abdullah. A short video of stories of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV was shown to the audience as part of the announcement.