Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (Sanac), said broad-based participation is needed in the fight against HIV and tuberculosis (TB) and added that programmes must be embedded within communities to allow for this.

The deputy president addressed attendees at the extended Sanac plenary in Secunda on Friday, where he revealed that Sanac was consistently accelerating its drive to reach and treat increased numbers of infected people by scaling up communication efforts around HIV/Aids, diabetes and TB.

“It is worrying that we still have to locate and treat the millions of people who live with diabetes, hypertension and various cancers and other non-communicable diseases. We need to work across all sectors to scale up the roll out of the Cheka Impilo campaign. We need visible leadership advocacy to increase the uptake, and get as many people as possible tested and put on treatment to prevent the spread of TB,” said Mabuza.

Sanac is sticking to its target of putting an additional two-million people on treatment by December 2020.

He called on society to intensify the drive to find people who are infected with TB but who have never been diagnosed and, therefore, are not on treatment.

He also said the cultural and socioeconomic determinants and drivers of gender-based violence required response from all leadership levels.

“It is becoming clear that without committed leadership at all levels of government across all spheres, we will not be able to reach our stated targets and make the necessary impact. We need to strengthen the capacity of Provincial, District and Local Aids Councils to provide leadership direction and effective coordination of HIV and Aids and TB prevention programmes,” said Mabuza.

He also called for youth sector programmes to be scaled up to reach as many young people as possible and added that prevention efforts must target adolescent girls, and young women.

He appealed to Sanac stakeholders to join in and help the fight against HIV and Aids in the country.

“Of continuing concern to all stakeholders gathered here, is that our HIV pandemic is linked to pervasive gender inequality accompanied by the violation of human rights of vulnerable sectors in our society. The abuse, murder, and rape of women, children, persons with disabilities, lesbians, gays, and transgender persons must be addressed as part of our comprehensive response to the challenges of HIV and Aids,” Mabuza said.