Speaker, the ANC-led government has made significant progress in the fight against HIV and Aids. Given the government's renewed focus on the campaign, about 1 million more people are expected to be added to the government's HIV treatment programme, bringing the number of those receiving such medication to at least 2,5 million.
The programme will now include those with a CD4 count of 350 and below. Until last week the country's treatment guideline allowed only those with a CD4 count of 200 or less to receive treatment. The new measure is in line with the World Health Organisation's recommendation that all HIV-positive people should be initiated into ARV treatment when their CD4 count is 350 or less.
As the ANC-led government, we shall continue to support the treatment of those who present themselves to the public health system for any conditions as best we can and within the resource constraints we face, regardless of their HIV/Aids status. [Applause.]