The HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa 2007-2011 (NSP) flows from the National Strategic Plan of 2000-2005, the Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management, and Treatment (CCMT) as well as other HIV and AIDS strategic frameworks developed for government and sectors of civil society in the past five years. It represents the country's multi-sectoral response to the challenge with HIV infection and wide-ranging impacts of AIDS. In May 2006, the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), under the leadership of its Chairperson, the Deputy President, Mrs. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, mandated the Health epartment to lead a process of developing a new 5-year NSP, for the years 2007-2011. This NSP seeks to provide continued guidance to all government departments and sectors of civil society, building on work done in the past decade. It is informed by the nature, dynamics, character of the epidemic, as well as developments in medical and scientific knowledge. An assessment of the implementation of the NSP 2000-2005 was useful in defining the challenges and the capacities of the various implementing agencies.