South Africa increased its scale of HIV treatment by 75 percent, allowing 1.7 million people to have access to the life-saving treatment, a new United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) report revealed on Wednesday.

The move has led to a decrease of more than 41 percent in new HIV infections in the past two years, said the report.

The report said the increase in South Africa's sustained investments in HIV treatment, such as antiretroviral therapy (ART), led to many lives being saved in the past six years.

"South Africa is the country that has made the highest domestic investment in AIDS among all low- and middle-income countries. It alone invested 1.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2011 from public sources, resulting in a five-fold increase between 2006 and 2011," said the UNAIDS' 2012 World AIDS Day report.

"This strategic leadership is an example being echoed across the region," said the report.

The report was released ahead of the World AIDS Day observed on December 1 every year. It is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

HIV/AIDS in South Africa is a prominent health concern. The country is believed to have more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country in the world.

"South Africa is committed to the fight against new HIV infections, and will continue to invest on the sustainable HIV treatment," Acting Cabinet Spokesperson Phumla Williams said in response to the report.

South Africa is encouraging all citizens especially the youth to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), he said.

"We believe that if many of us get tested, even though we may not be sick, this will help to reduce the amount of stigma associated with the HIV test and is a step towards the achievement of an HIV-free generation," Williams said.

The government commended the contributions of non-governmental organizations, religious and traditional institutions in raising awareness about the HIV and AIDS.

 VietNamNet/Xinhuanet