Daily Dispatch

More needed to fight HIV/Aids

TODAY marks World Aids Day and as a country we can look back with pride at the strides we have made in the fight against HIV/Aids over recent years.

While we still have the highest rate of HIV infections in the world, the government has done really well in expanding access to lifesaving antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs.

We have come a long way from the days when HIV-related deaths were commonplace amid denialism by the government of former president Thabo Mbeki.

Sadly Mbeki has still not realised the folly of his ways, despite glaring evidence that thousands of lives could have been saved had ARVs been rolled out by the government sooner. Instead, he spent time philosophising about whether a virus can cause a syndrome. Fortunately those days are behind us and now South Africa has the largest ARV treatment programme in the world – accounting for 20% of people on ARV therapy globally, according to UNAids.

We have 3.7 million HIV-positive people on ARVs. For all his political flaws and destructive leadership, President Jacob Zuma’s government has made great progress in ensuring access to treatment for HIVpositive people. About 80% of HIV/Aids response programmes in our country are funded by the government – making it the largest government-funded programme.

But still the rates of new infections remain high, with the annual infections around 270 000. If the South African national strategic plan for HIV, TB and STIs is successful, then new HIV infections will be reduced from 270 000 to 100 000 by 2022.

That said, the government and other stakeholders –- NPOs, lobby groups and civic organisations – can only do so much to help in the fight. At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of each and every individual to protect themselves against HIV/Aids. The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Let our actions count”.

Frankly this places the onus on the shoulders of each and every one of us to play our part in ending HIV/Aids – which has brought on misery to many families and left thousands of children orphaned. At the same time, we should support ongoing projects aimed at reducing the rate of infections. One of the most revolutionary initiatives introduced recently was the rollout of Truvada – an antiretroviral pill that reduces the risk of contracting HIV by at least 90% if taken daily – at universities. This is a groundbreaking initiative which will go a long way in minimising the spread of HIV/Aids among the student population. Young people are the most sexually active and at the risk of infection. Without an educated youth, basically we have no future as a country. Also we may have made progress in educating our communities about the disease, the stigma still remains. Ignorance is still prevalent and so is the discrimination. This means that the fight is still on. This morning Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the chairman of South African National Aids Council (Sanac), will be in Mthatha to lead the national event to commemorate the day. Today is a day to reflect as a country and also realise that more still needs to be done.