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Letter to Editor Nov. 20, 2003 Dear Editor: The South African cabinet has announced its approval of the Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care and Treatment for South Africa--the last component to the HIV/AIDS-STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005. We commend the South African government for this historic step in addressing the country's critical needs for antiretroviral treatment, and for establishing HIV and AIDS care and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)-prevention initiatives. Under the direction of the South African Department of Health National Task Team and with the collaboration of the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative, we volunteered our time to assist in the production of the operational plan. The plan engages various aspects of HIV/AIDS care, including: Accessibility to antiretroviral treatment for the estimated five million South Africans living with HIV and AIDS within five years through the establishment of local integrated care centers providing community care and support services in every health district; Systematic scale-up and integration of existing health care infrastructure to support all prevention and treatment programs and services with cultivation, recruitment, and retention of local and international health care professionals specializing in HIV/AIDS care and STD prevention; Creation of effective public education campaigns aimed at prevention, tolerance, and community awareness to reform the social stigmas and discrimination associated with the disease; Expansion of strategic partnerships with non-governmental and community-based organizations, media, and international organizations to support the goals of this plan. We would like to express our excitement for the HIV/AIDS-STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005, and we welcome additional opportunities to contribute to its ongoing success. Peter Cardiello, clinical training coordinator, Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership Krista Dong, HMS Division of AIDS, Durban, South Africa Richard Marlink, research and executive director, Harvard AIDS Institute Bill Rodriguez, director of international programs, HMS Division of AIDS and Massachusetts General Hospital Peter Trevor, research associate/lab manager, Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership Bruce Walker, director, HMS Division of AIDS and HMS professor of medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital