HIV shouldn't be seen as a permanent disease - minister

South Africa is behind in meeting the UNAids HIV-Aids combat targets, but health officials vow to intensify efforts to place 1.1 million people living with HIV on treatment by December.

- Thando Nondywana

According to the department of health, 96% of people living with HIV know their status, 79% are on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and 94% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said yesterday HIV/Aids should not be seen as a permanent disease.

"We must not reach a point where we accept HIV/Aids as something that will be with us forever. We can eradicate it - but only if we refuse to accept its continued presence," he said.

Motsoaledi said eliminating HIV was possible, provided there is collective political will, investment, and community engagement.

"We want to emphasise this because the possibility exists - it has already happened in some cases. The world has accepted living with diseases that could have been eradicated," he said.

"We know there are people living with HIV and they continue to be among us. They have found the courage to face this reality and they are living normal lives. However, we are saying we can stop its spread."