A total of 365 117 people in the North West province have tested for HIV since the launch of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign on 30 April 2010. The province aims to test one million people out of population of at least 3.2 million by the end of campaign next June.
The campaign will now be intensified with intensive awareness campaigns at taxi ranks, malls and institutions of higher learning. Several provincial government departments have also taken the lead by offering HCT.
MEC Rebecca Kasienyane is appealing to people of the North West to come in number for HIV tests. All public health facilities in the province are offering HCT.
The province has increased number of people on ARVs by from 83 770 to 95 080. Sites offering ARV treatment have also increased from 31 to 63 with 50 currently being assessed to offer the service.
The department also has 28 community based organisations and 90 clinics accredited as part of down referral programme. These sites refer stable patients to community based organisations and public facilities where quality Comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, Management and Treatment (CCMT) can be continued thereby ensuring monitoring of drug adherence and tracing of patients who default treatment.
All HIV positive pregnant women and patients on tuberculosis (TB) treatment including MDR and XDR with a CD4 count of 350 or less as well as HIV positive infants now receive ARVs at health facilities that offer the service. This is part of new and up-scaled HIV policy pronounced by President Jacob Zuma during World AIDS Day last year.
In addition, HIV positive women who are not eligible for ARVs (CD4 count above 350) now receive Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) at 14 weeks of pregnancy instead of 28 weeks as it was previously done. This will assist in ensuring that babies are born uninfected with HIV.
Furthermore, all HIV positive women who are not eligible for ARVs (CD4 count above 350) will also receive among other things, an annual pap smear.
All other HIV positive people who do not fall in the above categories will continue to receive ARV treatment when their CD4 count is 200 or less.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Department Spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
