30 November 2005

While the task of combating HIV/Aids in South Africa remains massive, the government believes it can be approached with confidence and hope, given the high levels of awareness and changes in lifestyle among South Africans.

According to a statement released by the Cabinet after its fortnightly meeting in Pretoria last week, condom usage among South Africans with multiple partners has increased from around 48% in 2002 to 79% in 2005, while access to condoms has increased to 97%.

Contributing to these changes was the launch of a new brand of free male condom, and intensified Khomanani HIV/Aids awareness programme.

HIV/Aids action plan: progress made
The Cabinet also reported on progress made since the adoption of the national Comprehensive HIV/Aids Care, Management and Treatment Plan in August 2003.

There are now 199 public health facilities providing HIV/Aids-related services, including antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, around the country, with 85 000 people having enrolled for ARV treatment in the public sector alone.

The number of South Africans who received volunatary HIV/Aids counselling and testing in public health care facilities increased from 691 000 in 2002/03 to over 1.3-million in 2004/05.

There was also, the Cabinet said, an increasing number of Aids patients accessing nutritional supplements from public facilities.

In addition, there are now over 61 000 community and home-based care workers and trainees helping with HIV/Aids prevention, treatment and care in South Africa.

According to the latest figures from UNAids, released on 21 November ahead of World Aids Day on 1 December, southern Africa remains the epicentre of the global Aids epidemic, with Aids prevalence still rising in most countries in the region: Swaziland has crossed the 40% mark, Botswana has reached 37%, and South Africa is close to 30%.

South African Department of Health figures released earlier this year show that HIV-prevalence among pregnant women has reached its highest levels to date, with 29.5% of women attending antenatal clinics testing HIV-positive in 2004.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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