Johannesburg - About 70% of people living with HIV are in Africa and, according to the Research Foundation to Cure AIDS (RFTCA), about 54% of infected people worldwide do not know they are positive.
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla stated during the recent World Aids Day commemorations, that in 2021 KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Free State provinces had the highest HIV prevalence rates at 18.3%, 15.9%, and 14.8%, respectively, while the Western Cape had the lowest at 8.3%, followed by the Northern Cape at 10%.
"According to research, the majority of our epidemic burden falls on black Africans, with crucial and vulnerable populations being disproportionately excluded from accessing health care. We must never relent in our efforts to stop the spread of the virus," he said.
Phaahla said that the department now needed to focus on the alarming and substantial increase among the youth population which continues to experience high rates of new HIV infections.
"This is a critical issue if we are to stem the tide of rising HIV infections. These new HIV infections occur in young people aged between 15 and 24, and according to research done through the Thembisa 4.3 model, in 2019, there were roughly 14 000 new infections in young males and 55 000 in young women," added the minister.
These figures should serve as a warning that HIV remains a major health threat
According to UNAIDS, around 4900 young women aged 15–24 years become infected with HIV every week. In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2021, with six in seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged 15–19 years being among girls. .
KwaZulu-Natal bore the greatest burden of the epidemic, according to UNAIDS.
The agency, noted that there were approximately two million people living with HIV, including 76 000 children (December 2020), and eThekwini had approximately 641 000 adults and 21 000 children living with HIV in 2020.
Meanwhile UNAIDS Country Director for South Africa, Eva Kiwango, has welcomed the South African government’s proposed bill to repeal the criminalization of sex work, as a positive move in the fight against HIV.
"The evidence is clear: criminalization has been proven to have increased the risks faced by South Africa's sex workers, hurt their health and safety, and obstructed South Africa's HIV response," she said.
UNAIDS also welcomed South Africa's intention to decriminalize and protect sex workers against abuse and exploitation.
"Criminalization has impeded South African sex workers' access to vital health-care services, including effective HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services."
To end AIDS, we need to repeal the harmful punitive laws which are perpetuating the pandemic. "To save lives, decriminalise," added Kiwango.
The Star