3rd SA AIDS Conference Declaration

Noting that the National Strategic Plan (NSP) represents a national roadmap and consensus plan, the delegates adopt a Declaration on HIV and AIDS on a few selected topics discussed at a pre-conference consensus meeting as follows:

1. The third South African National AIDS Conference, held from 5 to 8 June 2007 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, served as a platform for deliberations and for building consensus on key issues relating to prevention, treatment and care;
2. We note that South Africa has a severe generalised HIV epidemic which continues to pose one of the most formidable challenges to the social, cultural and economic development, progress and stability of our communities, and that it requires an exceptional and comprehensive response;
3. We note with concern that women and children are disproportionately affected and recognise that gender inequalities and all forms of violence against women and girls increase their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS and that these issues need to be addressed strategically;
4. We reaffirm that the full realisation of all human rights and addressing stigma and discrimination are essential elements in the response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic;
5. We confirm our support for the South African National Strategic Plan on HIV, AIDS and STIs 2007-2011 (NSP) which provides a plan for action and expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS;
6. We highlight the urgent need for human and financial resources to support the implementation of the NSP, and for strengthening the district health system;
7. We recognise the contribution of the scientific community and urge local, national, regional, and international commitment and support for research that is evidence-based, co-ordinated, locally relevant, and which takes account of the socio-cultural context of the country;
8. We recognise that collectively we have the means to reverse the epidemic, and that to do so we must deliver an urgent and comprehensive response that includes all stakeholders;
9. We recognise the need for active participation of People living with HIV and AIDS in implementing and monitoring the NSP;
10. We recognise that while we may not agree on all measures to address HIV and AIDS, we are committed to open and ongoing dialogue.

We declare our commitment to address the HIV and AIDS crisis by recommending actions that include the following:

It is noted:
That all counselling and testing should be voluntary, informed and confidential; that the mplementation of the NSP requires dramatic expansion in the accessibility, availability and tilisation of counselling and testing services; that knowledge of HIV status is an entry point for revention, treatment and care. Hence, the polarisation between client-initiated and provider-initiated counselling and testing is not helpful and may hamper the achievement of objectives of he NSP.

We commit ourselves to:

A national “Know Your Status” campaign;
1. Aligning the revised national policy on HIV counselling and testing with the NSP and WHO guidelines, containing a set of minimum quality standards that are evidence-based,
take account of individual needs, encourage HIV testing and that address infrastructure and system factors that limit the uptake of testing;
2. Developing guidelines for testing of children;
3. Making counselling and testing available and accessible to vulnerable groups, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, truck drivers, and prisoners;
4. Expanding counselling and testing services and integrating them into community-based, non-medical and outreach service settings that are appropriately linked to ongoing prevention, treatment and care services;
5. Implementing a variety of models to increase counselling and testing uptake, with particular emphasis on the youth and men, and non-reproductive health service users;
6. Broadening the range of trained personnel, including lay health workers, who are permitted to deliver counselling and testing services, by addressing the scope of practice, training, remuneration, career development, and supervision of lay counsellors.