Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and Deputy President David Mabuza says South Africa has made progress in ensuring that people know their HIV status.
He was speaking on Tuesday delivered a keynote address during the World AIDS Day commemoration event in Soweto.
“As a country, we have made great strides in meeting the first target of ensuring that people know their HIV status. At present, 92 percent of people living with HIV know their status. Of course, there are provinces that are doing better than others, but in general, South Africans are
He used this opportunity to provide an update on the country’s progress against 90-90-90 targets, and shared preliminary findings on the impact of COVID-19 on HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) services.
The 90-90-90 targets were introduced by the United Nation’s programme on HIV/AIDS to help end the AIDS epidemic.
The idea is that by 2020, 90% of people who are HIV infected will be diagnosed, 90% of people who are diagnosed will be on antiretroviral treatment and 90% of those who receive antiretroviral will be virally suppressed.
“We have ensured that 73% of people diagnosed with HIV, receive sustained anti-retroviral treatment. Therefore, the country has a treatment gap of 17%. We are encouraged that our country’s performance to reach a 90 percent viral suppression level stands at 88%,” Mabuza said.
He said as South Africa records these successes, the country needs to remain focused and initiate more people on treatment, as well as make sure that they stay on treatment and are virally suppressed.
“It is important that HIV-infected people start treatment and stay on treatment in order to limit transmission and the rate of new infections. Together we can do this.
“Together as a country we can reach the remaining two 90-90 targets, and ensure that HIV and TB are turned from perceived death sentences into a manageable and treatable diseases,” the Deputy President said.
