By Martin Williams

    JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- South Africa, one of the countries which have the highest HIV infections rates in the world, will embarks on a new approach to fighting the epidemic as the country is preparing itself to mark the World Aids Day on Tuesday.

    Former President Thabo Mbeki, who held controversial views on HIV, was known for his low-key responses to the annual event. This time it's different. The South African government has issued a statement, saying the 2009 World AIDS Day which falls on Dec. 1, "heralds a new era in the country's collective effort in the response to HIV and AIDS".

    The theme for this year's World AIDS Day in South Africa is: "I am responsible, We are responsible, South Africa is taking responsibility".

    The Treatment Action Campaign, the country's largest AIDS monitoring group, estimates that 5,6 million people in South Africa are infected with the HIV virus.

    Last month, The Lancet medical journal in Britain said South Africa is carrying a huge part of the global AIDS burden. On Nov. 11 this year, South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament: "We are 0.7 percent of the world population, but we are carrying 17 percent of its HIV/AIDS burden. When you take the global average of HIV/AIDS, the country is 23 times the global average."

    He said the figures were shocking. "As to whether it has been affected by what we did in the past 10 years, to me that's obvious...I don't think we'd have been here if we'd approached the problem in a different way."

    "It's a really obvious question. Yes, our attitude toward HIV/AIDS put us here where we are," he said.

    Today South Africa officially marks a decisive break from past attitudes. The government statement said "The theme encourages everyone in South Africa from individuals, communities, businesses and the government to take personal and collective responsibility to stop new HIV infections, provide care and support to those living with HIV and to ensure access to treatment for all people in need."

    The official HIV & AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Strategic Plan for South Africa 2007-2011 has key objectives: to halve new HIV infections by 2011, to ensure that 80 percent of people living with HIV have access to treatment.

    "To achieve these goals we all need to work together. Each one of us can play a part and must take responsibility to meet the goals of the National Strategic Plan," the statement said.

    "I am responsible" carries the following messages: everyone to know their HIV status by testing regularly for HIV, and Young people to delay having sex for the first time, young people to make informed choices to prevent unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection, sexually active people to be faithful to their partners and to use condoms each time they have sex, regnant women to test for HIV early in their pregnancy and to use condoms each time they have sex, those with TB to test for HIV and those with HIV to test for TB so that they can get the right treatment.

    "We are responsible" means: couples to talk about their relationships and how they can protect each other from HIV infection, couples can protect themselves by remaining faithful to each other, testing for HIV together and always using condoms, Men, women, families and healthcare workers to support pregnant women so that they can make decisions to protect their children from HIV, communities to provide care and support to those living with and affected by HIV, in particular orphans and vulnerable children, communities to take action and speak out against violence against women, communities to stop stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

    "South Africa is taking responsibility" indicates that "The government and all sectors of society represented in the South African National AIDS Council are providing leadership to ensure that every South African can prevent HIV infections and know their HIV status, pregnant women can access Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission services, all those with tuberculosis (TB) can access TB drugs; all HIV positive people can access anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment; The government says every South African living with HIV has the right to get anti-retroviral (ARV)treatment, successful treatment means being responsible for taking the medications every day. this is a life long commitment; anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment and good nutrition can prolong and improve the lives of people living with HIV."