The ANC welcomes the initiative of the North West government of making available and giving access to 51 new accredited health facilities to offer antiretrovirals as part of measures for preventing and treating HIV. This number is in addition to 29 existing sites. The province has also increased the number of people on ARVs.
As a result 29 community-based organisations and 90 clinics have been accredited as part of the down referral programme. Accredited sites refer stable patients to community-based organisations and clinics where quality comprehensive HIV care, management and treatment can be continued, thereby ensuring the monitoring of drug adherence and the tracing of patients who have defaulted on treatment. The strategy is consistent with the World Health Organisation recommendation that health care services urgently shift from acute hospital-based care to community-based patient centre chronic care.
More than one million people have been tested for HIV in North West as part of government's drive to combat the pandemic. The ANC has made substantial progress in combating HIV and Aids, given our renewed focus on the campaign. We continue to urge people to get tested and know their HIV status, thereby empowering themselves and government to offer a targeted response to this disease. Thank you. [Applause.]