S Africa has 'fastest' ARV growth

By Peter Biles
BBC News, Johannesburg

South Africa's health minister is controversial in the Aids fight

The South African government says nearly a quarter of a million HIV positive people are now receiving anti-retroviral drugs.

The number rose by 57,000 between June and September and health officials say the country now has the fastest growing treatment programme in the world.

In the past, the government has been accused of not doing enough to fight the HIV/Aids pandemic.

More than 5m people in South Africa are infected with the virus.

This is part of a striking turnaround in the South African government's approach to the HIV/Aids crisis.

In the past, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang had stressed the importance of good nutrition, including beetroot and garlic, rather than anti-retroviral drugs.

Huge challenges

But more than 235,000 people are now benefiting from anti-retroviral programmes, and there's also been an increase in the number of health facilities where treatment is administered.

A Malawian grandmother rests with her sick grandson on her knees

The Department of Health says it is in the process of finalising a five-year strategic HIV/Aids plan which will be unveiled on World Aids Day on 1 December.

Lobbyists from the Treatment Action Campaign and other civil society groups have been working more closely with the government since the health minister was - in effect - sidelined.

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka is now leading the National Aids Council and playing a far more prominent role.

But there are still huge challenges to address.

An estimated 800 people die every day as a result of HIV/Aids.

There are approximately 1,400 daily new infections, and a critical shortage of health workers.