Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President, hon members, Azapo welcomes the launch of the HIV Counselling and Testing, HCT, campaign in Parliament. HIV/Aids and noncommunicable diseases are the biggest threat to human development. While countries, including South Africa, invest a lot of money in human resource development, HIV/Aids reverses the gains by attacking the very human capital that has been developed. Azapo supports all efforts to combat the spread of HIV/Aids and other diseases.
An Aids-free generation and a healthy nation will mean that the money and other resources that go towards the treatment and care of people living with HIV/Aids will be channelled towards other developmental needs of the country. Hon Minister, we will join the campaign to encourage South Africans to test for HIV and noncommunicable diseases. We will join the queue of those who want to be tested. Thank you. [Applause.]