What CDC Is Doing in South Africa

CDC partners in South Africa with government and parastatal agencies, private institutions, universities and non-governmental organizations to improve the country’s public health foundation, to prevent transmission of HIV, to provide care and treatment for those who are already infected with HIV, and to strengthen laboratory capacity.

CDC started work in South Africa in 1989, assisting non-governmental and community-based organizations working with HIV. In 1994 at the onset of democracy in South Africa, CDC began to collaborate with the South African National Department of Health to conduct public health epidemiology training; develop national health goals and objectives; develop national HIV clinical, ethical, and research guidelines; and support HIV and TB programs. In June 2000, CDC opened a Global AIDS Program office in South Africa.

Simple infection control procedures like reminders to open windows and doors at the right time help prevent new infections in public TB facilities.

In 2004, with the launch of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC in collaboration with other U.S. government partner agencies expanded the scale and scope of its financial and technical support in South Africa. The HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2007-2011 (NSP) provides the blueprint for comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment services.

Today, the South African government is leading an unprecedented scale-up of HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment services throughout the country. Its improved capacity to respond rapidly to other public health threats is testament to the long-standing partnership between the U.S. and South African governments. The reauthorization of PEPFAR in 2008 means these productive relationships will continue as the government of South Africa moves toward program sustainability.

Our Programs in South Africa