World AIDS Day commemorated on 1 December is the annual day used since it was founded in 1988 to promote
information regarding the decease among the locals. It is a chance for people
all over the world to come together in the battle against HIV, to support those
who are living with HIV, and to remember those who have passed away from an
AIDS-related illness. Globally, an estimated 38.4
million people are living with HIV. In 2021, an estimated 1.5 million people
acquired HIV and around 650 000 people died from AIDS-related causes.
This year’s theme for World
AIDS Day is Equalize. According to the world health Organisation, as HIV
continues to affect millions of people worldwide, the global HIV response is in
danger. There has been a slowdown in progress toward HIV goals over the last
few years, and resources have shrunk, putting millions of lives at risk.
UNICEF is warning that
progress in HIV prevention and treatment for children, adolescents and pregnant
women has slowed down over the past three years. In 2021, around 110,000
children and adolescents (0-19 years) died from AIDs-related causes.
HIV is a virus that targets a
person’s immune system and gradually prevents it from being able to protect
your body from infections. HIV is reportedly transmitted through unprotected
sex, sharing of infected needles or other sharp instruments, the transmission
of infected blood, and from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth,
and breastfeeding.
HIV has become a manageable
chronic health condition with effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment
and care, despite no cure. WHO stated that people still need to be reminded if people
with HIV are not treated they start developing signs of AIDS that can lead to
an early death (3 years).
During the covid 19 lockdown HIV
prevention, testing and treatment all took a blow due as the coronavirus
pandemic was taken as a priority. This resulted in a halt to all progress
against the HIV pandemic, resources have shrunk and millions of lives are at
risk as a result.
To curb the increase is HIV
persons, the Western Cape hosted a provincial symposium involving key
stakeholders to find solutions related to HIV from district healthcare,
science, civil society, youth and community, and funding as the different
stakeholders work towards ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by
2030
Western Cape’s Health &
Wellness MEC, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, encouraged citizens to use condoms to
prevent transmission by reducing the risk of exposure to HIV and sexually
transmitted infections (STI) during sex.
Western Cape Spokesperson on
Health in the Western Cape Legislature, Wendy Kaizer-Philander,
said that between the financial years of 2017/18 and 2021/22: While HIV
positive tests fell from 47 397 to 23 301, fewer tests have been taken;
Persons starting ART’s fell
from 45 491 to 24 230, with those remaining on ARTs falling from 3 571 to 2
454; and
Total condoms distributed
decreased from 117 018 900 to 65 155 252.
The city of Cape town stated
that between April and October this year, 13 478 patients have had assisted HIV
self-screening at City Health facilities, returning a positivity rate of 2,3%.
The City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia Van der Ross said HIV self-screening is now available at 38 City Health facilities, with nearly 15 000 people already opting for the assisted self-screening.; 1st December is the day used every year since it was founded in 1988 to promote information regarding the decease among the locals. It is a chance for people all over the world to come together in the battle against HIV, to support those who are living with HIV, and to remember those who have passed away from an AIDS-related illness. Globally, an estimated 38.4 million people are living with HIV. In 2021, an estimated 1.5 million people acquired HIV and around 650 000 people died from AIDS-related causes.
This year’s theme for World
AIDS Day is Equalize. According to the world health Organisation, as HIV
continues to affect millions of people worldwide, the global HIV response is in
danger. There has been a slowdown in progress toward HIV goals over the last
few years, and resources have shrunk, putting millions of lives at risk.
UNICEF is warning that
progress in HIV prevention and treatment for children, adolescents and pregnant
women has slowed down over the past three years. In 2021, around 110,000
children and adolescents (0-19 years) died from AIDs-related causes.
HIV is a virus that targets a
person’s immune system and gradually prevents it from being able to protect
your body from infections. HIV is reportedly transmitted through unprotected
sex, sharing of infected needles or other sharp instruments, the transmission
of infected blood, and from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth,
and breastfeeding.
HIV has become a manageable
chronic health condition with effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment
and care, despite no cure. WHO stated that people still need to be reminded if people
with HIV are not treated they start developing signs of AIDS that can lead to
an early death (3 years).
During the covid 19 lockdown HIV
prevention, testing and treatment all took a blow due as the coronavirus
pandemic was taken as a priority. This resulted in a halt to all progress
against the HIV pandemic, resources have shrunk and millions of lives are at
risk as a result.
To curb the increase is HIV
persons, the Western Cape hosted a provincial symposium involving key
stakeholders to find solutions related to HIV from district healthcare,
science, civil society, youth and community, and funding as the different
stakeholders work towards ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by
2030
Western Cape’s Health &
Wellness MEC, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, encouraged citizens to use condoms to
prevent transmission by reducing the risk of exposure to HIV and sexually
transmitted infections (STI) during sex.
Western Cape Spokesperson on
Health in the Western Cape Legislature, Wendy Kaizer-Philander,
said that between the financial years of 2017/18 and 2021/22: While HIV
positive tests fell from 47 397 to 23 301, fewer tests have been taken;
Persons starting ART’s fell
from 45 491 to 24 230, with those remaining on ARTs falling from 3 571 to 2
454; and
Total condoms distributed
decreased from 117 018 900 to 65 155 252.
The city of Cape town stated
that between April and October this year, 13 478 patients have had assisted HIV
self-screening at City Health facilities, returning a positivity rate of 2,3%.
The City's Mayoral Committee
Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia Van der Ross said HIV
self-screening is now available at 38 City
Health facilities, with nearly 15 000 people already opting for the assisted
self-screening.
PICTURE: UNAIDSby Everngelista Muza
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