Does official data back up President Jacob Zuma’s claim that fewer than 6,000 babies are born HIV+ every year?
South Africa is respected for its achievements in fighting HIV and AIDS since he took office, President Jacob Zuma told parliamentarians recently.
As part of the presidency’s budget vote speech, Zuma specifically lauded government’s programme to prevent pregnant women from passing on the virus to their babies. About 70,000 babies were born HIV+ in 2004, Zuma said.
“Due to our very successful prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme, the figure has dramatically dropped to below 6,000,” he added.
Approximately 1.1% of babies tested positive at birth
Zuma’s spokesman, Dr Bongani Ngqulunga, told Africa Check that the figure Zuma used was sourced from the national department of health.
This story was first published by Africa Check, a Wits Journalism project. Please click on the following link to read the full article: Are fewer than 6,000 babies born HIV+ every year in SA, as Zuma said?
