28 November 2006
The Government's Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) programme is
progressing well with more than 1,7 million people utilising the VCT services
in the past financial year.
Between April 2005 and March 2006, 1 715 588 received pre-HIV testing
counselling and 80% (1 374 638) of them tested for HIV. About 35% (479 086) of
those who tested were found to be HIV positive.
The progress in increasing the uptake into VCT is largely attributed to HIV
and AIDS awareness campaign which encourages people to know their HIV status.
Government's HIV and AIDS communication programme, Khomanani, particularly
highlights the need for testing. In its media campaign with a theme: "Taking
relationship to a higher level," Khomanani encourages young partners to test
for HIV.
The uptake is also enhanced by the wide accessibility of this service across
the country. A total of 4 172 VCT service points are operational in both
medical and non-medical sites in all nine provinces. VCT is available in more
than 90% of clinics. Close to R26 million is allocated annually to all
provinces for VCT services based on provincial targets to cover all resources
necessary for quality VCT services.
We encourage everyone to utilise these services and any information relating
to the utilisation of these services will be treated with maximum
confidentiality. All testing is voluntary and users of this service are
requested to give consent for HIV testing after appropriate counselling.
VCT is critical in enhancing HIV prevention efforts and improving the
effectiveness of care and treatment services. Attached is the breakdown of
number of people tested per province.
VCT report: April 2005 to March 2006
Province: Eastern Cape
Total pre-test counselled: 168 237
Tested: 123 768
Testing rate: 74%
Tested positive: 39 113
Positivity rate: 32%
Province: Free State
Total pre-test counselled: 61 262
Tested: 40 283
Testing rate: 66%
Tested positive: 16 632
Positivity rate: 41%
Province: Gauteng
Total pre-test counselled: 213 935
Tested: 183 821
Testing rate: 86%
Testing positive: 77 374
Positivity rate: 42%
Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Total pre-test counselled: 340 542
Tested: 310 215
Testing rate: 91%
Tested positive: 145 442
Positivity rate: 47%
Province: Limpopo
Total pre-test counselled: 174 191
Tested: 113 077
Testing rate: 65%
Tested positive: 34 883
Positivity rate: 31%
Province: Mpumalanga
Total pre-test counselled: 75 168
Tested: 47 909
Testing rate: 64%
Tested positive: 21 144
Positivity rate: 44%
Province: North West
Total pre-test counselled: 481 704
Tested: 372,135
Testing rate: 77%
Tested positive: 110 559
Positivity rate: 30%
Province: Northern Cape
Total pre-test counselled: 42 369
Tested: 36 761
Testing rate: 87%
Tested positive: 6 926
Positivity rate: 19%
Province: Western Cape
Total pre-test counselled: 158 180
Tested: 146 663
Tested rate: 93%
Tested positive: 27 013
Positivity rate: 18%
National
Total pre-test counselled: 1 715 588
Tested: 1 374 638
Testing rate: 80%
Tested positive: 479 086
Positivity rate: 35%
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: Department of Health
28 November 2006
