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Paul Mashatile
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), is leading the official commemoration of World AIDS Day today, Sunday, 1 December 2024, at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane Township, East London, Eastern Cape.
World AIDS Day is observed annually on 1 December to show solidarity with millions living with HIV and to raise awareness about the epidemic, encouraging prevention, treatment, and care. This year’s theme, “Equal Rights, Equal Care,” calls for equitable and dignified access to healthcare for all South Africans, regardless of economic status, gender, race, or sexuality.
Aligning with the global theme, “To Protect Everyone’s Health, Protect Everyone’s Rights,” South Africa emphasizes the right to universal access to quality healthcare, reflecting the principles of the newly enacted National Health Insurance (NHI) model aimed at addressing healthcare inequalities.
Deputy President Mashatile is joined by SANAC Civil Society Chairperson Solly Nduku, SANAC Private Sector Chairperson Nompumelelo Zikalala, Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, and representatives from UN agencies (UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO), U.S. government agencies (CDC, PEPFAR, USAID), research entities, civil society movements, the private sector, and community members.
As part of the programme, Humile Mashatile, Patron of the Global Alliance, participated in launching the Eastern Cape Provincial Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children by 2030.
South Africa has made significant strides in combating HIV/AIDS, hosting the world’s largest HIV treatment programme. However, challenges such as stigma, treatment gaps, and healthcare disparities persist. World AIDS Day 2024 serves as a reminder that equitable healthcare is a human right.
The commemoration includes dialogues with children on the Global Alliance Policy, with resolutions presented during the formal programme. SANAC and the Department of Health have organized multiple build-up activities across the province to support the day’s events.
World AIDS Day 2024 is an opportunity for all South Africans to remind themselves that HIV is still a reality and that it is incumbent on all to continue fighting prejudice, stigma, and discrimination.
The event underscores the importance of a multisectoral and multidisciplinary response to HIV/AIDS, calling for equal, equitable, and dignified access to healthcare for all South Africans.
The commemoration reflects on the province’s significant progress in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a focus on raising awareness about the importance of antiretroviral therapy and the benefits of early linkage to treatment, including the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) campaign.
The global theme emphasizes the urgent need for leaders and citizens to advocate for the right to health and address inequalities hindering progress in ending AIDS.
The commemoration serves as a call to action to protect everyone’s health by protecting everyone’s rights, urging leaders to take the rights path to end AIDS.
The event highlights the importance of community involvement and leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS, recognizing that ending AIDS requires prioritizing and reaching everyone living with, at risk for, or affected by HIV.
The commemoration also focuses on challenging stigma and discrimination, emphasizing that protecting the right to health means ensuring healthcare is available to everyone without discrimination.
The event underscores the need to remove laws that harm people’s rights and enact laws that uphold the rights of every person, highlighting that upholding human rights is vital for ending the AIDS pandemic.
The commemoration serves as a reminder that the world can end AIDS if everyone’s rights are protected, with human rights at the centre and communities in the lead.
The event calls for global solidarity in the fight against HIV/AIDS, emphasizing that equitable healthcare is not just a goal but a human right.
The commemoration reflects on the progress made in combating HIV/AIDS and the challenges that remain, highlighting the importance of continued efforts to raise awareness, fight prejudice, and ensure access to treatment and care for all.
The event emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, involving government, civil society, the private sector, and communities, to ensure that everyone has access to the healthcare they need.
The commemoration serves as a platform to reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with global targets and national strategies.
The event highlights the role of the National Health Insurance model in transforming South Africa’s healthcare system to provide universal access to quality healthcare for all citizens.
The commemoration underscores the importance of addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty and inequality, which contribute to the spread of HIV and hinder access to healthcare.
The event calls for renewed efforts to prevent new HIV infections, particularly among young people and key populations, through education, awareness, and access to prevention services.
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