The South African National Aids Council (Sanac) has adopted a strategic plan to respond to HIV/Aids challenges in the country, it said on Tuesday.
This was announced at a Sanac conference at Emperors Palace near Johannesburg.
Spokesperson Mark Heywood said the plan might not be perfect, but it was the best available as it has been endorsed by the Cabinet.
The strategic plan functions under the areas of prevention; treatment, care and support; research, monitoring and surveys; as well as human rights and access to justice.
Heywood said the implementation of the plan depended on both Sanac and civil society.
He said the meeting was about getting civil society to work together and not to railroad anybody into a position they did not support, and to agree on important issues.
”The implementation of the national strategic plan document depends on us. If we do not insist on policy change, a million people who should not be infected with HIV/Aids will die,” he said.
Senior researcher at the Aids Law project Jonathan Berger said: ”The strategic plan is developed in a manner that it’s not a government document. But it’s for civil society, where time frames and targets are set to hold people accountable.” — Sapa