Newly appointed Deputy Health Minister Gwen Ramokgopa represented South Africa at the meeting.

"While a number of countries have instituted border area interventions associated with some mobile groups, these initiatives do not provide for continuity of services to mobile populations and also do not recognise the HIV and Aids impacts of mobility on affected communities," she said.

"Hence the purpose for the launching of mobile HIV clinics along the major trade routes in the region is to begin to address these challenges."

A total of 32 border sites had been identified for the mobile clinics.

"South Africa is to host four mobile clinics funded by the Global Fund - two with Lesotho, Botswana (one) and Swaziland (one).

"In order to operationalise this initiative, a memorandum of understanding will be signed between the SADC Secretariat as the Principal Recipient and South Africa before the end of January 2011," she said.