3.2 HIV/AIDS
This Ninth National Congress notes:

1. Extensive COSATU resolutions on HIV/AIDS at previous congresses and Central Committees.
2. That 80% of AIDS related deaths are from TB.
3. The emergence of multi-drug resistant TB is of grave concern.
4. That our health system is crumbling under the dual burden of TB and HIV and AIDS.
5. The emergence of the fatal XDR TB resulting from failure of the Department of Health to respond with urgency on early warnings.

Therefore this Ninth National Congress resolves:

1. To reaffirm resolutions of the Eighth National Congress.
2. To support systems at workplaces and strengthen the practical side of the education and treatment components of the campaign.
3. To set a target of 100 000 workers a month to be covered by union workplace communication on HIV and AIDS.
4. To train 20 000 peer educators annually.
5. To continue campaigning for free care and treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS accessed from where it is convenient for the person.
6. Normalisation of HIV infection as with other medical conditions (diabetes, hypertension, asthma etc.
7. The Department of Health must do its job to protect society from unfounded claims of cures for HIV and AIDS in violation of the laws of the country.
8. To square our efforts on prevention.
9. Employers should be encouraged to adopt orphanages.
10. To call for urgent action in producing drugs believed to be effective against XDR TB.
11. That the Minister of Health must declare a national disaster and reintroduce the vertical programmes to deal with these diseases.
12. Government must meet immediately with COSATU health sector affiliates and other social formations together with the World Health Organisation to address the emergency that TB, especially XDR TB, represents to South Africa and to design a public response with all concerned.