South Africa’s Health Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, has urged men to play a more active role in the fight against HIV and AIDS, citing low testing and treatment participation among them as a major challenge.
Speaking at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, Motsoaledi launched a campaign aimed at enrolling 1.1 million individuals in HIV treatment by December 2025. The initiative, in collaboration with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and other health stakeholders, seeks to improve access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ensure 95% of diagnosed individuals achieve viral suppression.
Current statistics show that South Africa has 7.8 million people living with HIV and AIDS, with 7.5 million aware of their status. However, only 5.9 million are on ARV treatment, highlighting gaps in adherence and retention in care. A previous 2010 campaign found that 65% of those tested were women, showing the need for more men to participate.
Motsoaledi said many men rely on their partners to get tested and access treatment. “When you go to the clinic, you don’t find men. When we ask them why, they say, ‘My wife has tested.’ Please help women fight this battle,” he told attendees.
The campaign is part of efforts to eliminate HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Motsoaledi referenced past disease eradication efforts, recalling how global initiatives successfully eliminated smallpox and polio through widespread vaccination and mobilization.
The initiative also aims to address tuberculosis (TB) and cervical cancer. The Minister called for urgent action against TB, warning that despite being known for over a century, it remains a major health challenge due to historical neglect.
