Poor nations should highlight to the United Nations the problems that make them more vulnerable to HIV/Aids than developed countries, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Thursday.
”There needs to be an understanding of the factors that make people in Africa more vulnerable to the spread of HIV infection and the impact of Aids compared to people in developed regions,” the minister said at the launch of the National Consultative Forum in Johannesburg.
The forum is a platform where Department of Health officials meet representatives of NGOs, businesses and private hospitals to discuss health issues.
”There is a need to keep in mind the factors like the cycle of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment in Africa.”
Tshabalala-Msimang said she will highlight these factors at the World Health Assembly Forum in Geneva and the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/Aids in New York to be held later this week.
”The UN special session is critical as it is going to significantly influence the nature of the global response to the challenge of HIV and Aids in South Africa and other African countries,” Tshabalala-Msimang said. — Sapa