Durban — Recent reports have revealed that HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) still pose a threat to South Africans.
In response to this threat, the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) has co-ordinated the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2023-2028 for HIV, TB and STIs – a five-year strategy it plans to employ in its attempt to fight the scare posed by these pandemics.
The NSP is also contributed to by all sectors of society which, among others, include health workers, scientists, civil society and labour unions to the government, development partners and, most importantly, ordinary South Africans.
Sanac’s Dr Thembisile Xulu said: “This is a plan that seeks to address the HIV, TB and STIs epidemics in an inclusive way, and requires a multi-sectoral response, including people from all levels of society.”
She said all citizens could have their say by visiting a user-friendly web portal launched on Wednesday.
“Through soliciting input on the plan from all South Africans, Sanac wants to ensure that all voices are heard and priorities identified for the NSP 2023-2028, and understand and identify challenges that hinder the country’s progress towards ending HIV, TB and STIs as public health threats by 2030.”
Xulu believes that ending HIV, TB and STIs as a public health threat by 2030 will be achievable if all key stakeholders play a role in developing and implementing key, targeted interventions.
“We need the public to be part of the process to fight these epidemics and to make their inputs because the NSP belongs to them,” she said.
Xulu said its strategy would replace the NSP 2017-2022, which was extended by a year as a result of Covid-19-related disruptions.
She said the council aimed to guide a powerful, united response to these health challenges with a genuine focus on transparency, inclusivity and collaboration.
“The draft came as a result of extensive consultations from May to July 2022, including with vulnerable populations such as sex workers, people with disabilities and people who use drugs – and a national workshop for its stakeholders,” Xulu said.
She said a broad input was also invited through an online survey it undertook.
Xulu said Sanac was asking all South Africans to comment. She said every contribution, no matter how small, would be considered.
“The NSP portal is now open for comment and, once finalised, the refined plan, endorsed by them, will be published and tabled to Cabinet for approval, and launched by March 2023,” she said.
Xulu said public participation was vital. She said placing communities at the centre of the response to HIV, TB and STIs was key.
“We want people to interrogate the draft plan – the targets remain drafts until the final strategy is adopted by Cabinet,” Xulu said.
She said the NSP consultations had taken place in all nine provinces of South Africa and had received input from thousands of people from different sectors and organisations, including people living with HIV and people infected with TB and STIs.
Xulu said people were urged to visit the dedicated NSP mini-site to view the full draft NSP 2023-2028.
“The NSP contributes towards South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030, which in turn contributes towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
Daily News