South Africans urged to get tested for HIV on World AIDS Day

South Africans will be encouraged to know their HIV status on the World AIDS Day by getting tested and to follow the 'ABC' principles of abstaining, being faithful and condomising.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will lead the World Aids Day commemoration event Sunday in Emahhashini, Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, reports government news agency SA News.

The government hopes to move to the next phase of conquering Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by achieving zero infections, discrimination and AIDS-related deaths.

This year's event will be observed under the theme: Get Wise, Get Tested, Get Circumcised.

The World AIDS Day is held every year so that people worldwide can get united in the fight against HIV, to show their support for people living with HIV and to reflect back on the strides taken in the multi-sectoral HIV, Aids response.

Currently, South Africa has one of the largest HIV and AIDS treatment programmes with 2.4 million people under treatment.

Through these programmes, the country has seen huge gains including continuous reductions in the rate of HIV transmission from mother-to-child and the successful counselling and testing of 20 million people from HIV.

What is HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that destroys or impairs the function of the body's immune system making the person more susceptible to infections. Unless treated, it develops into full-blown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virus infects humans when it comes in contact with tissues lining the vagina, anal area, mouth and eyes, or through a break in the skin. There are two main types HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-2 is typically found in Africa and parts of Asia. HIV-2 is typically found in Africa and parts of Asia. Asia can thus no longer be considered free of HIV-2, and testing for HIV-2 appears mandatory, at least in India. Worldwide, when people refer to HIV they are usually referring to HIV-1.

What is AIDS?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) isn't a disease in itself. It is a condition in caused by HIV in which the body's immune system fails to battle foreign microorganisms. This leads to various opportunistic infections and/or certain cancers. It is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

Source: IANS