The war against HIV is not yet won

Every year on December 1, the world reviews progress in the decades-long battle against HIV/Aids. This year, led by the UN, it does so under the global theme “Let Communities Lead”. The theme is apt, reflecting the now-accepted understanding that conquering the disease is as much a personal as it is a societal responsibility.

Due to better medical understanding of the disease over the years, as well as changes in attitudes towards it, HIV/Aids has ceased to be regarded as a death sentence for those diagnosed with it. In fact testing, which has become freely available, has enabled millions to live normal and lengthy lives, thanks to treatments that have evolved over the years.

But progress has been chequered. While still in the millions, global infection numbers have stabilised in many population categories. At the same time, figures remain concerningly high in certain population groups and geographic regions.

In South Africa we have seen a decline in prevalence, but more than 7-million of our fellow citizens are still living with HIV.

Among the worrying trends are the higher infection rates among young women, as well as lower viral suppression rates for young men.

Overall, the trends suggest that as a country we still have a mammoth fight on our hands. We have to increase efforts to address the underlying factors that help to drive the epidemic.

These include the persistent patriarchal relations between men and women; the reluctance of men to test for HIV; as well as economic inequalities which often enable men to use their economic power to dominate women.

And as per this year’s theme, substantially rolling back the disease will require society to make a combined effort to ensure that everyone knows their status, and that those who require treatment can get it with public education being the centrepiece of our efforts.