Durban — The Educate Empower Elevate Foundation rounded off the year with a candlelight event to caution the public on practising safe sex even though there are accessible antiretrovirals (ARVs).

The event, themed “Shine Your Light on Hope” was to commemorate World AIDS Day at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Durban Campus.

TB HIV Care Regional Manager, Ntambue Mulumba, shared how they have observed decreasing use of condoms but increasing reliance on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Mulumba further said that the provision of PrEP should not overshadow the preventative measures of Voluntary Counselling and Testing together with condom use or Anti-Retroviral Treatment.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health head Dr Sandile Tshabalala echoed the same sentiments that declining condom use is worrying because there is a perception of the severity or risk of contracting HIV as being low. Young people view HIV as a chronic condition rather than an epidemic.

Tshabalala stated that South Africa’s theme for World Aids Day 2024 is “Equal Rights, Equal Care”.

“There are disparities in the provision of healthcare among key and vulnerable populations, making it difficult to meet targets for HIV, TB and STIs.”

Educate Empower Elevate Foundation attendees. Picture: Ronald Tenza

Tshabalala shared insights from the South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey (2022) which highlighted key drivers of the HIV epidemic in SA. One of them is how early sexual debut before the age of 15 years among 15–24-year-olds was higher among males compared to females.

Females aged 15-19 years were more involved in age-disparate relationships than males. He emphasised that as a society, we should ask ourselves.

“Is it ok for a girl or a 22-year-old female to have a 60-year-old boyfriend?”

The survey also found there was little knowledge of PrEP (34.2%). Only 14% of those who had heard of PrEP reported they had taken it.

He acknowledged that more advocacy and awareness needs to be done to educate South Africans about PrEP and its correct use.

Dr Tshabalala spoke about trends in HIV new infections from 1985, before the availability of ART and most HIV prevention programs, when the rate of infections was rapidly increasing. The ART program was introduced in 2004, and the rate began to decrease. Compared to other provinces KZN has experienced the highest decline in new infections.

He reported that according to UNAIDS 95-95-95 target to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030; 95% of people living with HIV must know their status, 95% of those who have tested positive must be on treatment and 95% of those on treatment must have a suppressed viral load. KwaZulu-Natal is at 97-87-81 in terms of performance against the 95-95-95 cascade across its total population using data available in the public and private sectors.

He recommended that to achieve the 95-95-95 target, KwaZulu-Natal must increase the number of clients on ART to 129 597 and retain them in care. He advised that Case finding (finding clients who are not yet on treatment and those who defaulted along the way) was imperative.

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