Western Cape province has managed to curbed the high rate of HIV pandemic.
(The Post News)- On its 6th South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey, the Human Science and Research Council (HSRC) announced the Western Cape has the lowest prevalence in the country.
While the province has the lowest prevalence in the country, the survey found that attention must be given to pediatric HIV care. “We have focused generally on around the 15 to 24 [age group] because they have been the main driver of new infections in the country in general. We know that’s around the age group when sexual activities start, but the one other age group for Western Cape to look at from the data we showed is the paediatrics,” says the Lead for Health and Wellbeing, professor Sizulu Moyo.
In addition, Moyo says, “We need to be aware that there is HIV in children…23% in 2017 now prevalence is estimated at 4.6%. So this could be because of new infections or also because children are living and surviving. But what we need to look at is to prevent the new infections and get the children on antiretrovirals.
He further praised the improvement of number of the people who take treatment in the province and the country as a whole, saying getting people to test and start the treatment has been most important.
“While we have seen an increase in HIV awareness, an increase in being on treatment, an increase in viral load suppression, we are not where we are supposed to be. And I think that’s where the work needs to be done. A key point is starting with the first indicator, knowing your status. People cannot get into treatment if they don’t know their status, so testing is very important,” elaborates Moyo.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Country Director in South Africa, Dr John Blandford, says, “We don’t yet have the vaccine, but there’s progress being made. There is work…we call [it] functional cure which will give people longer-term suppression of the virus in their bodies, and that could be within a decade or so where we would see those opportunities where you wouldn’t have to take a pill every day.”
Earlier this week, the HSRC announced that Kwazulu Natal has the second highest prevalence in the country, with approximately 1.98 million people living with HIV. The Northern Cape will be the next province to be visited.
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