{"id":40860,"date":"2026-07-28T13:34:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&p=40860"},"modified":"2026-07-28T15:25:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:25:07","slug":"sa-reaffirms-need-for-global-hiv-support","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/sa-reaffirms-need-for-global-hiv-support\/","title":{"rendered":"SA reaffirms need for global HIV support"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Africa’s (SA) Deputy Health Minister Doctor Joe Phaahla has underscored the importance of international co-operation as the country continues to shoulder the world’s largest HIV burden and operate the biggest HIV testing and treatment programme.<\/div>\n
Speaking at the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,\u00a0Phaahla said SA is strengthening partnerships across the African continent and with civil society organisations to sustain gains made against the epidemic at a time when the global HIV response is facing significant funding pressures.<\/div>\n
He also welcomed major scientific advances in HIV prevention, particularly the long-acting injectable drug Lenacapavir, which is administered only twice a year and has demonstrated near 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV infection in clinical studies.<\/div>\n
Phaahla cautioned, though, that scientific breakthroughs alone will not end the epidemic.<\/div>\n
He stressed that life-saving innovations must be affordable, accessible and available at scale, especially for vulnerable populations in low and middle-income countries.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
–SABC–<\/div>\n