2023-12-02 10:31:16
The South African government is committed to eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public health problem by 2030, Health Minister Joe Phaahla announced on Friday.
“Despite all these continuing challenges, the government plans to achieve the UNAIDS target of 95-95-95 by 2030, i.e. diagnosing 95% of all people with HIV, providing antiretroviral treatment to 95% of people diagnosed and obtain an undetectable viral load for 95% of people treated,” said Mr. Phaahla during a meeting on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
Stressing that the day is commemorated this year under the theme “Let communities lead”, he recognized that there is still a long way to go to remedy this scourge.
Earlier today, Vice-President Paul Mashatile expressed his concerns regarding the increase in AIDS infections among the age group between 25 and 49 years old.
Read also: South Africa has 7.8 million people suffering from AIDS
He also expressed concern regarding the lack of access to treatment for HIV-positive children, youth and men, emphasizing the importance of investing in community-centered approaches to respond to the epidemic. of HIV.
“Communities must actively participate in strategic interventions to combat stigma, discrimination and human rights violations affecting people infected with HIV/AIDS,” he said.
South Africa is among the countries most affected by AIDS in the world. According to figures from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the country has 7.8 million people living with the virus, a prevalence rate of 12.7%.
“This figure represents a slight decline from 2017 when 14% of the population tested positive for the virus,” said Khangelani Zuma, a senior researcher at the HSRC.
He added that the impact of the HIV epidemic in South Africa affects black Africans the most (20%), followed by Coloreds (5%), then Whites and Indians/Asians (1% each).
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