Feature story

UNAIDS Executive Director visits South Africa

09 February 2009

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UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé (left) met with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mrs Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge on 9 February 2009 in Capetown.
Credit: UNAIDS/G. Williams

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé, is visiting South Africa where he will announce plans for the future direction of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

This morning in Cape Town he met with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mrs Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.

Tomorrow he will outline his strategy for the future direction of UNAIDS during a speech in the South African township of Khayelitsha where he will be joined by the Minister of Health Hon. Ms Barbara Hogan.

Building on the commitment countries have made to reach universal access by 2010, Mr Sidibé will set out his strategy and highlight the need to invigorate global momentum, action and commitment towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

He will also outline the investments needed for countries to reach their targets for 2010.

This is the first official country visit Mr Sidibe has undertaken in his new role as Executive Director of UNAIDS.

South Africa currently has the largest number of people living with HIV in the world—approximately 5.7 million and HIV prevalence in adults aged 15 to 49 is 18%.