South Africa Says It's on Target for AIDS Goal

As the opening of United Nations International AIDS conference approaches on July 22, the country with the highest number of HIV infections is taking stock of its progress in battling the virus.

As the opening of United Nations International AIDS conference approaches on July 22, the country with the highest number of HIV infections is taking stock of its progress in battling the virus. South Africa is hailing advances in just a few short years, following high-level denial that there even was a problem. But South Africa’s Health Minister says much more needs to be done.

South African health officials say there is very good news, especially in terms of reducing the mother-child HIV transmission, and they are close to meeting their goal of driving down the infection rate to just 2% by 2015.

“The exposure rate amongst infants in 2011 was very similar to the exposure rate in 2010. But the HIV transmission rate by eight weeks post-delivery had dropped from 3.5% in 2010 to 2.7% in 2011, and this is a significant decline in prenatal HIV transmission,” said Dr. Ameena Goga of the nation’s Medical Research Council.

He criticized the Security Council for failing to shoulder its responsibilities and doing what is needed to resolve the crisis in Syria.