Mashatile calls for more HIV screening, diagnosis and treatment initiation.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile called for further increase HIV screening, diagnosis, and treatment initiation while maintaining treatment adherence to keep viral suppression rates high.

Mashatile commemorated Word Aids Day in the Buffalo City metro, the Eastern Cape. 

World Aids Day is commemorated annually across the globe in solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV as well as to raise awareness about the status of the epidemic, with a view to encourage HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

The 2024 theme: “Equal Rights, Equal Care” is a call for equal, equitable and dignified access to healthcare for all South Africans regardless of their economic status, gender, race or sexuality. 

“Our country remains the epicentre of HIV and is among those with the highest TB burden. There are nearly 8-million people living with HIV, and TB remains the leading cause of death, claiming around 56,000 lives a year,” he said.

Mashatile said HIV is prevalent among young people, especially adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24, with a weekly record of 1,300 new cases.

“The infection rate among boys of the same age, however, is almost three times less, meaning girls are more vulnerable to HIV infection. A variety of factors, including the biological makeup of their bodies and their involvement in age-disparate relationships, contribute to this phenomenon.

“We must always be cognisant of the fact that HIV is not only a public health crisis but also a developmental challenge and a human rights matter. Our approaches must be comprehensive, targeted, inclusive and geo-specific. 

Mashatile urged all government departments to incorporate HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis [TB] in their workplace health and wellness programs.

“In the same breath, we call upon political parties, trade unions, student organisations, and other formations to encourage their members and supporters to know their HIV status and those who know their status to seek treatment and to remain on treatment.

“Our traditional leaders need to continue to use platforms at their disposal, such as community meetings, izimbizo, traditional initiation schools, funerals and such events, to encourage their subjects to test for HIV and TB,” the Deputy President said.

He said government would continuously rely on various stakeholders, such as religious leaders to mobilise all men and women who worship, especially those who are HIV-positive and have stopped treatment, to return to care.

The Deputy President welcomed the initiative by the Department of Health, working together with SANAC and development partners, to trace the 1.1 million people living with HIV and linking them to treatment from today to December 2025.

Mashatile said linking these 1.1 million people to treatment will enable the country to reach the UNAIDS targets of 95-95-95. This is 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status; 95% of people who know their HIV status are receiving HIV treatment and 95% of people on HIV treatment are virally suppressed.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said it was important for everyone to acquire knowledge about HIV and Aids.

Our people deserve equal rights, equal care despite their status. This is an important day for us, let’s have hope,” Mabuyane said.

He said the province would focus on young people. “We have a problem of high teenage pregnancy. Lets teach our children to be responsible,” he said.

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