United Front Against HIV, Aids and TB
As government we have been encouraged by the attendance of various role-players such as members of cabinet, academics, mayors, traditional leaders, traditional healers, NGOs, civil society and general members of the public.
Creating a permanent and unified front against HIV is what we have agreed to do moving forward. We have examined the progress we have made in terms of establishing Ward Aids Committees, district and local aids councils.These are very crucial structures that have ensured that the management of HIV, Aids and TB programme and decision-making is brought closer to the end-users.
We have evaluated how far we have gone in terms of developing effective mechanisms to engage communities as partners in the rollout of the programme against HIV, Aids and TB. We have succeeded in establishing better links between health professionals involved in this programme, volunteers, leaders and local communities.
We have discussed ways of improving aids awareness campaigns as well as health promotion activities. We have singled out a campaign on treatment adherence as well as testing and counseling for confirmed HIV patients as top priority.
Young people hold the key to the future but unfortunately, as they grow, they are increasingly exposed to reproductive health risks such as sexual transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. The council has agreed that the campaign on behavioral change targeted at young people would be intensified.
No cure for Aids: Council to clamp down on unscrupulous individuals
KwaZulu-Natal HIV and Aids Council has resolved to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at clamping down on unscrupulous individuals purporting to have a cure for Aids.
The council has agreed unanimously to work with relevant authorities to curb this deadly practice which has the potential to wipe out the entire nation.
Despite government's message that there is no cure for Aids, the mainstream media continues to flight adverts that are misleading which may lead to people indulging in unprotected sex. Our greatest concern is that those on antiretroviral therapy will default and eventually develop drug-resistant viral strains which will have devastating consequences.
We have agreed that we will work with the Broadcast Complaints Commission, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and Standards Authority of South Africa in order to remove advertisements of scientifically untested and unapproved medicines for curing Aids.
Importantly, the Medicine Controls Council (MCC) Act states that no person shall publish or distribute or in any other manner whatsoever bring to the notice of the public or cause any false or misleading advertisement concerning any medicine; or in any advertisement make any claim to the effect that the therapeutic efficacy and effect of any medicine.
Our message is that there is no cure for Aids but we can win the war if we reach more infected people quickly and when we treat them immediately.
The progress report which has been presented before the Provincial Aids Council indicates that it is possible to achieve universal access to quality healthcare, especially for people with HIV.
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
KwaZulu-Natal Province has recorded successes in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Antenatal Clinic bookings before 20 weeks have showed an increase rate of 11% (41.05% in 2011/2012 to 46.35% in 2012/2013). UMkhanyakude District Municipality is among the top 20 districts in the country with highest early booking rate. The district has surpassed the national target: 54.25%.
Maternal Deaths
KwaZulu-Natal has four districts rated among the top 20 districts in the country with lowest maternal mortality ratio.
Antiretroviral Therapy
The number of adults remaining on ART in this province is 728 826. The number of adults on ART increased by 7% when compared to previous reporting period. The districts among the country's top 20 on retention of ART patients on treatment are the following:
EThekwini(Position 1/20): 207 091
UMgungundlovu (Position 7/20) 77 530;
UThungulu (Position 8/20): 71 864
Zululand (Position 12/20): 50 600
uMKhanyakude (Position 13/20): 49 136
Ugu (Position 14/20): 45 588
Children on Antiretroviral Therapy
About 56 822 children are on Antiretroviral Therapy in KZN. We have about 10 districts among the country's top 20 districts on retention of children requiring ART on treatment.
EThekwini(Position 1/20): 13 801
Umgungundlovu(Position 3/20): 7 959
Uthungulu (Position 7/20): 5 765
Zululand(Position 9/20): 4 394
HIV Counselling and Testing
The campaign on Testing and Counselling has resulted in about 218 6302 HIV tests being conducted. And out of these, 314 826 tested positive. The number of HIV tests conducted increased by 3%. The testing coverage based on provincial population is at about 21% as compared to 20 % previously.
Antenatal Prevalence
KZN has managed to ensure the reduction in HIV Antenatal Prevalence from 39.5% (2010) to 37.4% (2011). UMzinyathi District Municipality is among the 20 top districts in the country with lowest prevalence: uMzinyathi (Position 16/20) at 24.6%.
However, 9 KZN districts among the top 20 districts in the country with highest prevalence.
Ugu(Position 2/20) 41.1%
UMkhanyakude(Position 3/20) 41.1%
Sisonke (Position 4/20) 39.9%
Medical Male Circumcision
Progress has been made in scaling up of medical male circumcision with 269 586 males circumcised. There is an increase in the number of males undergoing medical circumcision by 24% as compared 19% previously. Coverage increased to 5% from 1%. EThekwini Municipality (34717), uMkhanyakude District (10398) and Uthungulu District (11809) with highest numbers of MMCs. iLembe District with lowest.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children
The estimated number of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the province increased from 644 783 to 708 204 (an increase of about 9 %.) Amajuba (27863 to 34748), ILembe (33727 to 41839) and uMkhanyakude (36685 to 43257)had the highest increases in the numbers of Orphans and Vulnerable Children while Zululand registered a 3%(56882 to 55123) decrease.
• Thirty three (33% ) of estimated number of orphans and vulnerable children has been registered as compared to 28% recorded in the previous reporting quarter.
• Districts with the highest number of orphans and vulnerable children registered are uGu, uThungulu and uMgungundlovu. iLembe with lowest number.
Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy requires an on-going effort. The number of teenagers under 18 years who fell pregnant has increased by 18%. Six KZN districts are among the 20 districts in the country with the highest delivery rates of under 18-year old.
UMkhanyakude (Position 6/20): 11.3%
Zululand(Position 7/20):10.8%
Sisonke(Position 7/20):10.8%
UGu (Position 13/20):10.5%
District and Local Aids Councils
All the 11 districts have established District AIDS Councils. About 5 out of 11 District AIDS Councils can be considered to be fully functional (meeting regularly, chaired by the mayors, submitting reports and 70% attendance at meetings by members) compared to 7 in the previous quarter.
All the Local AIDS Councils have been established. About 13 of these are fully functional. The remaining Aids councils are not fully functional.
Of the 823 wards, 400 wards AIDS Committees have been established and trained. Of the trained, 105 are fully functional.
Enquiries:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Cell: 082 3754742
Website: www.kznonline.gov.za
E-mail: ndabezinhlesibiya@yahoo.com
