Developing Treatment Guidelines for Women of Reproductive Age

In South Africa, the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS have long been contested and are, in themselves, complex. Treatment has been normalized, embraced and guided by the National HIV/AIDS and STI Strategic Plan (NSP), which is the overall guiding plan for HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The Plan is implemented in partnership with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). The NSP has gaps in the key areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and this has been an important critique of policy guidelines. SRHR are only identified in the indicators of prevention and are absent from other provisions in the Plan. These gaps are also challenges in the Southern African region and globally. While the process of addressing SRHR in South Africa has started, these comments have the potential for wider application globally.