South Africa remains at the forefront of the global battle against HIV/AIDS.The country carries the highest burden of infections worldwide. Close to 8 million people live with the virus in South Africa but the country through governmental efforts remains a beacon of hope, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to tackling the epidemic.
In South Africa among the nearly 8 million people living with HIV, about 5.7 million of them are on treatment, leaving a gap of over 2 million people who should be on treatment but are not. Even with a range of treatment and prevention options there have been notable new infections, and it is troubling that statistics show that young people between the ages of 15 to 24 are particularly vulnerable and at risk of contracting the virus.
« At the time when they started, when we had to start treatment, you needed to have a CD4 cell count of less than 200. But now we have tests and treatments. When you’re tested today, you’re giving antiretroviral treatment today. »
THEMBELIHLE DLAMINI, Human Rights Activist – South Africa
In South Africa, the government has prioritised providing treatment to those who have HIV and antiretroviral treatment is free to anyone who tests positive, no matter their CD4 count. Officials are also ramping up efforts to encourage medical male circumcision, and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
« People are living longer and they’re aging very well. People are not actually as sickly as they used to be, all those are the positive things that have contributed towards the development of the ARVs in South Africa or the treatment in South Africa. »
KOGIE NAIDOO, Public Health Professor – South Africa
Health officials report that the strides made in fighting HIV have given rise to new hope but the fight is far from over. The dangers of HIV remain real and the disease continues to ravish through families and communities with consequences for future generations. They urge the population to take responsibility for their lives and in the spirit of Ubuntu take the necessary preventative measures to prevent the further spread of the disease.
