There was a fresh sense of optimism in South Africa after President Jacob Zuma used World Aids Day to announce a marked shift in government’s HIV policies.

Zuma outlined new plans for the treatment of HIV positive babies and pregnant women.

He also spoke about the roll out of a massive testing campaign, saying every South African has to know his or her status.

It was a dramatic shift from the stance of his predecessor Thabo Mbeki. A Harvard study found Mbeki’s decisions led to more than 300 0000 premature Aids deaths.

The Commission for Gender Equality’s Javu Baloyi said the new measures would go a long way to help those infected with the HI virus.

“We are living in the age of hope; all that South Africans and civil society organisations have been praying for is finally becoming a reality,” said Baloyi.

The National Aids Council’s Mark Heywood said the new measures were a welcome change.

“When the government is willing to be open about issues, accountability does not mean conflict. Conflict starts when the government either denies the truth about something like the Aids epidemic,” said Heywood.