The South African National AIDS Council (Sanac) is sounding the alarm over the significant decline in condom use across the nation, which has fallen to what officials describe as the ‘lowest ever’ levels.
The pressing issue highlights an urgent need for innovative prevention strategies to combat the rising challenges posed by HIV/AIDS.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Sanac’s CEO Thembisile Xulu, articulated the importance of immediate action, ‘If we miss the mark on funding and we get it right even just in terms of prevention and make sure we push social behaviour change, we will be able to keep those 52 million South Africans that are negative. That is a win,’
Xulu said that approximately 8 million people are living with HIV in South Africa, with around 6.2 million receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ARVs), according to figures published by Thembisa Project in March.
Xulu reiterated that sustaining the health of the HIV-negative population is paramount and necessitates a concerted push for prevention measures that include not only condom use but also Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC).
‘For the people on treatment to stay on treatment and their viral load becomes undetectable then they will not be able to transmit and we will be on the way towards a win, but we need to maintain funding and strategies for prevention,’ Xulu told Newzroom Afrika.
However, the current landscape of HIV/AIDS prevention in South Africa is marred by challenges associated with financial support.
Xulu drew attention to the impacts felt from a recent withdrawal of funding from the United States for global health programmes, critically affecting those focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, awareness, and treatment.
‘The situation around the funding in February didn’t help because funding was pulled off. We lost some staff members, some community members that were funded to make sure we bring people back onto care, back onto treatment,’ she explained.
First published on Cape {town} etc
Also see: The rise of sexually liberated women
