Good news on HIV /AIDS

By MALEREKO TAE


FINDING out about your HIV status in the 90s down to early 2 000, was like a sour pill to swallow as most people were highly stigmatised. . .

With more education and research a lot has been achieved.

Today people living with HIV can live longer, provided they take their medication regularly, while the fight to find the cure is ongoing.

As the world observed World AIDS Day on December 1, is to remind people that they need to take care of themselves and practice safe sex.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) South Africa commemorated the day with the community of KwaMashu and the surrounding areas in KZN to raise more awareness around HIV /AIDS.

This year’s focus was to raise awareness about the epidemic, honour those who have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses, support those who carry on the fight, and unite people globally in battling HIV/AIDS.

Dr Kate Ssamula, country program director at AHF South Africa, said that people living with HIV are at the heart of what they do.

“We are celebrating a diverse group of people who make up this community and celebrating the HIV allies who stand shoulder to shoulder with them and fight for HIV rights while celebrating the milestones that have been achieved over the years,” she said.

While the world has made significant progress over past decades, the global HIV/AIDS response faces serious threats, including insufficient funding, dangerously high rates of 1.3 million new HIV transmissions annually, an estimated 630,000 deaths each year, and responses not being prioritised highly enough, particularly in lower-income countries.

To give significant meaning to South Africa’s theme for this year’s World AIDS Day – Let Communities Lead – there has been numerous events commemorating AIDS day in the Butterworth, Mnquma Sub-district in Eastern Cape and Diepsloot, north of Joburg, Gauteng until December 8.

“World AIDS Day provides a platform to emphasise the urgent need for decisive action against HIV/AIDS in South Africa, especially among young women and girls.”

AHF says it’s crucial to address the rising HIV infections, especially in the context of intersecting issues like GBV and teenage pregnancy.
And the emphasis globally is on empowering young women and girls to ignite change.

Scientific advancements in HIV research and treatment have been pivotal in improving the lives of individuals living with the virus.

Innovations such as antiretroviral therapies, preventive measures like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and groundbreaking vaccine development continue to reshape the landscape of HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

A survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) with its partners in 2023 released findings from the Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM VI), found that the percentage of all people living with HIV in South Africa has decreased from 14.0% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022.

This translates to approximately 7.8 million people living with HIV in South Africa in 2022 compared to 7.9 million in 2017.

We urge all South Africans to always recognise HIV/AIDS as a chronic illness that can be managed and that people living with HIV may live full and happy lives.

“We all have a responsibility to treat individuals who have an HIV-positive diagnosis with compassion, those who have AIDS with care, and ourselves and our sexual partners with dignity,” said Kate.

Addressing stigma and discrimination is critical to reducing the burden of HIV.
She said world AIDS day is commemorated annually to remind people that the battle to find a cure for aids is on.