War against HIV far from over despite ARVs

South Africa has the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world, with more than 4.2 million people on life-saving antiretrovirals (ARVs). Millions of HIV-positive South Africans now live productive lives. The rollout of treatment has led to an increase in life expectancy and low levels of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Despite these achievements, serious problems remain.

According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) the world is off track when it comes to ending Aids among children and adolescents by 2030.

And more than half of the children and teenagers who are living with HIV globally are to be found in eastern and southern Africa.

Unicef says the major “shortfalls” in fighting HIV in young people are failures in preventing infection and in addressing the “structural and behavioural drivers of the epidemic”.

The US continues to make a substantial financial contribution to our country’s fight against HIV. This week US consul-general Virginia Blaser, on a visit to our province, warned that the Eastern Cape continues to face an HIV epidemic of alarming proportions, with the rate of infection soaring and young people the worst affected.

About 807,721 people in our province are living with HIV and about 70 new cases are diagnosed each day. This is a higher disease burden than some African countries face. The challenges are multifold.

We need to find a way to reduce risky behaviour, encourage testing and encourage those who are HIV-positive to seek treatment and, once they are on treatment, to stay on it.

It is crucial that young people get the right message about the HIV epidemic and receive the support they need to keep themselves healthy and prevent the disease being spread to others.

Also critical is the need to address poverty and disempowerment, both of which drive young people to engage in risky sexual relationships and mitigate against youngsters adhering to treatment regimes.

Many people have assumed that now ARVs are readily available, the HIV battle is all but won.

Sadly, this is not so. We all need to ensure our communities remain aware, and that we continue to talk frankly about HIV.

It is crucial that young people get the right message about the HIV epidemic and receive support