Cosatu welcomes report on reduction in the rate of new HIV infections

By Ofentse Mokae
22 June 2010

Congress of South African Trade Unions has welcomed the report by the Human Sciences Research Council which indicates that there has been a 35% reduction in the rate of new HIV infections in South Africa between 2002 and 2008.

Just above 1 percent of South Africans between the ages of 15 and 49 were newly infected annually between 2005 and 2008, compared to 2% from 2002-2005.

The decline was mostly due to a 60% reduction in incidence among young women, aged 15-24.

Cosatu’s Patrick Craven attributed this to various campaigns by government and civil society.

“The credit for this welcome news must undoubtedly go to the united campaign led by government and civil society to persuade young people of the need for changes in behaviour and to get themselves tested,” Craven said.

Craven however cautioned that the rate of infection is still too high, and warned against any complacency or slowing down of the HIV Prevention and Testing Campaign.