Addressing HIV in informal settlements and the critical role of local government in achieving targets set in the NSP 2012 - 2016: Submission to Zero draft of the National Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016

This document has been prepared in response to the SANAC call for submission of comments on the Zero draft of the NSP 2012 – 2016 released in August 2011. The submission makes specific recommendations for addressing HIV, STIs and TB in informal settlements and outlines the critical role of local government in achieving the targets of the NSP 2012 – 2016. In our submission, we focus on four key concerns:

1. Local government has a critical role to play in achieving the targets of the NSP 2012 – 2016. The role of local government is missing in the zero draft.
2. Informal settlement residents are a Key Population group to be considered within the NSP 2012 – 2016. This is acknowledged within the zero draft. However, specific activities to address and monitor responses to HIV, STIs and TB in informal settlements are lacking.
3. Urban informal settlements have the highest HIV prevalence nationally and require a specific, targeted response. The zero draft acknowledges the high HIV prevalence in urban informal settlements but does not include targeted activities to address this.
4. HIV is a developmental issue that requires an appropriate developmental response. This is acknowledged in the zero draft. However, there is no guidance for what a developmental response should look like, how it should be planned, and who is responsible for creating a developmental response.