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Cosatu welcomes slowing HIV rate

The Congress of SA Trade Unions has welcomed a report that the rate of HIV infection was slowing, an official said on Monday.

"The credit for this welcome news must undoubtedly go to the united campaign led by government and civil society to persuade young people of the need for changes in behaviour and to get themselves tested," spokesman Patrick Craven said in a statement.

The Human Sciences Research Council study found a 35% decline in the rate of new HIV infections between 2002 and 2008.

Craven said, however, this was not a reason for complacency. The study found that 1.3% of South Africans aged 15 to 49 were newly infected annually between 2005 and 2008, compared to 2% in the years 2002-2005.

The decline was mostly due to a 60% reduction in incidence among young women, aged 15 to 24. - (Sapa, June 2010)

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