JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — South Africa will observe a moment of silence to mark World AIDS Day, when the nation will be asked to stop working for 15 minutes to think and talk about the disease, organisers said Friday.
Deputy President Baleka Mbete will ask the nation to pause on Monday, in what the South African National AIDS Council described as an unprecedented campaign to generate awareness of the disease.
"The 15-minute national stoppage is an opportunity for all South Africans to think and talk about HIV and AIDS," the statement said.
The main labour federation COSATU has thrown its support behind the initiative, with leaders like Desmond Tutu endorsing the campaign.
"This is the first time in the history of the HIV epidemic in South Africa that every major sector has united for a common purpose," the council said in a statement.
South Africa has one of the largest AIDS epidemics in the world, with some 5.5 million South Africans living with HIV. Approximately 70,000 children are born with the virus every year.
South Africa was long criticised for its AIDS policy, as former president Thabo Mbeki for years questioned whether HIV caused the disease.
At the same time, his health minister and loyalist Manto Tshabala-Msimang was dubbed "Dr Beetroot" for proposing lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and beetroot over anti-retrovirals to treat the disease.
The government's tone has changed dramatically since Mbeki was ousted by the ruling party in September. The appointment of new health minister Barbara Hogan has been praised by activists.
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