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May Day HIV/AIDS focus

South African trade unions used May Day celebrations on Monday to call for greater action against HIV/AIDS.

Addressing workers and union members in the Western Cape Province town of Swellendam, the South African Trade Union (COSATU) likened the pandemic to a "national disaster".

The South African Press Association quoted COSATU provincial representative Andre Kriel as saying, "AIDS is undermining millions of people's hopes and livelihoods, and robbing them of the means to lift themselves out of poverty."

In the presence of President Thabo Mbeki, COSATU also called for "presidential leadership" on the issue, but he did not respond.


This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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