A call for 'communities to lead' on World Aids Day 2023

Approximately 7.8 million people were living with HIV in South Africa, last year, compared to 7.9 million in 2017.

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in collaboration with its partners, on Tuesday, announced key findings from the Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour survey (SABSSM VI).

The data was collected over 15 months, from January last year to April this year, and more than 27,000 households were interviewed in this period.

The SABSSM highlights progress toward ending HIV in South Africa, which is the country with the world’s largest HIV epidemic.

Announcing the survey’s key findings, HSRC executive director Khangelani Zuma revealed that the percentage of all people living with HIV in South Africa has decreased.

Provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga were among those with the highest HIV prevalence

The Western Cape still have the low HIV prevalence between 8.3% and 11.6%

The survey also found that people living with HIV are now living longer than they were in 2017.

and the United Nations is urging governments across the world to unleash the power of grassroots communities across the world to lead the fight to end AIDS, as we commemorate World Aids Day on Friday.

A new report launched by UNAIDS, shows that AIDS can be ended as a public health threat by 2030, but only if communities on the frontlines get the full support they need from governments and donors.

This year’s theme is ‘Let communities lead’.

The City of Cape Town said between April 2022 and October 2023, 47 773 clients have had assisted HIV Self-screening at City clinics, of which 825 tests were positive.

MMC for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross, said the City will be rolling out secondary distribution of HIV Self-screening test kits in the new year.

‘’These programmes are important in reducing stigma and discrimination. They are also critical in the expansion of access to treatments, gives people at risk choices and encouraging them to check their HIV status, while helping those who are negative continue with prevention.’’

‘’We cannot simply treat our way out of these pandemics. We need to address the social determinants of HIV and TB by adopting an all-inclusive approach. We must continue to address the issue of stigma and discrimination of persons living with and affected by HIV and TB,’’ added Van der Ross.

Since implementing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) at City Health facilities two years ago, more than 12 000 people have started treatment at the 67 facilities offering this service. As PrEP is not a life-long treatment, clients can safely discontinue PrEP when their HIV risk is no longer high, or if it is their preference.

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is also available at City facilities, to any clients who attend within 72 hours of potential HIV exposure.

 

Done By: Alungile Njemla & Mitchum George