The KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has taken the provincial government’s anti-HIV/Aids message to the northern eThekwini region, of which she is a political champion, on the occasion of the 26th International World Aids Day.
“We have come a long way since the first diagnosis of HIV three decades ago and we now have a better grasp of what needs to be done. With this knowledge, we can say without fear of contradiction that the advances we have made will take us a step closer to an Aids-free world,” said Dube-Ncube at Osindisweni today.
Ethekwini’s northern region, with the catchment population of 1,812,105, accounts for 52% of the metro’s total population. The number of HIV tests conducted between January and September 2014 in this region was 268,081, with an average of 33,510 tests were conducted per month.
“The rate of new infections has declined, especially among young people and this is attributable to regular testing, adoption of safer sex practices such as increased use of condoms, reduction in the number of sexual partners and delay in sexual debuts,” said Dube-Ncube.
With the rate of HIV infection at 16.7 percent or 308,057 individuals in this region, the total number of patients on anti-retroviral treatment by September 2014 was an impressive 156,696. This accounts for 51% of the total number of people on anti-retroviral treatment in the eThekwini Metro.
The impact of our interventions is reflected by an increase in life expectancy which can be attributed to expanding access to antiretroviral treatment. We have also achieved a reduction in rates of mother-to-child transmission. These tallies show that the government’s efforts are working,” said Dube-Ncube.
Dube-Ncube used today’s visit to eThekwini’s northern region to review the successes of the provincial government’s fight against HIV/Aids at Osindisweni Hospital as well as in a number of local “war rooms” located in every municipal ward as part of KZN’s unique Operation Sukuma Sakhe.
Enquiries:
Lennox Mabaso
Cell: 0828842403
