All babies in South Africa below the age of 12 months are set to be provided with HIV drugs if tests prove that they have the condition, Pharma News has learnt. Details of the new scheme were announced by the South African President, Jacob Zuma, on December 1st 2009 - World AIDS Day.

Within his speech, Zuma expressed hope that antiretroviral drug treatments would lower infant mortality rates, adding that he, himself, would be tested for HIV.

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is an event that focuses on heightening global AIDS awareness and it has been an annual reoccurrence for the past 21 years. Each one has a theme - that for 2009 is Universal Access and Human Rights.

The South African government's estimate for the number of people living with AIDs is in the millions (out of a population of 48 million people) - giving the country the world's highest infection rate. What's more, annually, 59,000 AIDs-infected births take place.

HIV in South Africa

Under present South African policy, HIV in South Africa is treated with drugs only when tests highlight especially reduced immunity levels. President Zuma's revision of this, therefore, marks a major turn-around. Those opposed to the previous President, Thabo Mbeki, suggest that his failure to provide HIV treatment drugs to those who needed them can be linked to the deaths of 300,000 people.

HIV Drug Scheme

Under the terms of the new HIV drug scheme - which will get underway in four months time - children and women carrying babies will have improved access to antiretroviral drugs in what Zuma described as an "era of openness."

"What does this all mean?" he said. "It means that we will be treating significantly larger numbers of HIV positive patients. It means that people will live longer and more fulfilling lives."

"I am making arrangements for my own test", he asserted. "I have taken HIV tests before, and I know my status. I will do another test soon as part of this new campaign. I urge you to start planning for your own tests."

See also:

Side Effect Warning for HIV Drug Stavudine