HIV / AIDS PROGRAMME

South Africa has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world, with 7.7 million people living with HIV.

HIV prevalence among the general population is high at 20.4%. Prevalence is even higher among men who have sex with men, transgender women, sex workers and people who inject drugs.

South Africa has made huge improvements in getting people to test for HIV in recent years. It has now met the first of the 90-90-90 targets, with 90% of people living with HIV aware of their status in 2018.

The country has the world’s largest ART programme, which has undergone further expansion with the implementation of ‘test and treat’ guidelines.

South Africa was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to fully approve PrEP, which is now being made available to people at high risk of infection.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Doing What’s Needed

In addition to helping with HIV prevention, education increases the tolerance and empathy of individuals who have contracted the disease. By addressing fears and changing attitudes, education reduces discrimination and stigmas – the leading causes for children and adolescents to drop out of school

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Tackling the Issue

HIV prevention strategies at community level include:
behavioural change communication using health education and other methods.
community condom distribution.
HIV prevention campaigns.
outreach peer education.
life skills training for vulnerable women.

SUPPORT SERVICES

Making a Difference

Care and support is important for the following reasons: to facilitate immediate access to treatment when a person is diagnosed with HIV; to support adherence to treatment in order to attain viral suppression for people living with HIV, for the sake of their own health and to prevent infecting other people with HIV; to enhance the prevention and management of HIV-related infections; and to enhance coping with the challenges of living with HIV.