The National Aids Commission will host various events including advocacy workshops and engagements with different sectors ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1.

This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”

NAC Communications and Advocacy Officer, Mzondase Tsepane, said the commemoration is an important opportunity to highlight the impact that funding cuts from international donors have had on the response to AIDS. It will also showcase the resilience of countries and communities stepping up to protect gains made and drive the HIV response forward. 

Tsepane said in honour of World AIDS Day, various events will take place, including advocacy workshops and engagement with different sectors. 

“On December 7, NAC will engage the media on the theme and unpack the national HIV estimates for2025,” she noted in a statement.

Tsepane added that this year’s historic funding crisis threatened to unravel decades of progress as HIV prevention services are severely disrupted. 

Community-led services, vital to reaching marginalised populations, are being deprioritisedwhile the rise in same-sex relationships, gender inequality, and drug use is amplifying the crisis, making HIV services inaccessible.