This Friday is World AIDS Day and the City is leading the charge by implementing new HIV and TB policies and guidelines. In the last year and a half, the City has recorded 50 000 assisted HIV self-tests.
This year’s World AIDS Day theme is ‘Let communities lead,’ which is right in line with the National Department of Health’s approach to education and preventing HIV.
The prevention strategies used by the City’s HIV programme include Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
A huge issue with HIV is that many people go untested – often adolescent girls and young women. HIV self-screening (HIV SS) and Index Case Testing (ICT) have been used to aid this problem of untested people.
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The strategies also look to improve couple testing among pregnant and lactating women.
Between April of last year and October of this year, 2023, City facilities saw 47 773 clients take assisted HIV SS. Of these tests, 825 were positive.
‘These programmes are important in reducing stigma and discrimination,’ explained the City’s mayoral committee member for community services and health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
‘They are also critical in the expansion of access to treatments, gives people at risk choices and encouraging them to check their HIV status, while helping those who are negative continue with prevention.’
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Since PrEP was implemented at City Health Facilities two years ago, more than 12 000 people have started treatment, which is not a lifelong process. Clients can stop PrEP when their HIV risk is no longer high or if they feel they want to stop.
To celebrate World AIDS Day, the City is hosting various events.
The main event will be hosted in Area North, where staff from the facility will engage with informal settlements in Bloekombos on Friday, 1 December from 8am onwards.
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‘The City will not just continue its efforts of working closely with various stakeholders to address the biomedical and behavioural determinants of people infected and affected by HIV, but efforts are under way of how we can address the social determinants of health which play such an important role in starting and treating clients.’
‘We cannot simply treat our way out of these pandemics. We need to address the social determinants of HIV and TB by adopting an all-inclusive approach. We must continue to address the issue of stigma and discrimination of persons living with and affected by HIV and TB,’ said Councillor Van der Ross.
For more information on PEP and PrEP, visit the City’s page.
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Picture: Bermix Studio / Unsplash