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World AIDS Day: opportunity to unite in fight against HIV
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for every community to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and remember those who have died
POLOKWANE – World AIDS Day is commemorated each year on 1 December and is an opportunity for every community to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and remember those who have died.
HIV/AIDS in South Africa
South Africa has been relentless in its mission to turn the HIV/AIDS, and TB epidemics around and there are notable achievements to celebrate. A review of efforts in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic over the past 20 years paints a mixed picture.
South Africa has come a long way in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 2012 government implemented the National Strategic Plan on HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis.
In 2010 government also scaled up its antiretroviral treatment programme. A further expansion was planned from January 2015 to bring South Africa in line with World Health Organisation treatment guidelines. As part of this, the Department of Health started HIV-positive patients with a CD4 count of 500 or less on antiretroviral treatment, as opposed to the present CD4 count of 350. All HIV-positive pregnant women received lifelong treatment, regardless of their CD4 counts. Currently, HIV-positive pregnant women receive treatment until they stop breastfeeding.
World AIDS Day is important as it reminds the public that HIV has not gone away and that collectively, there is the need to increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education to maintain and achieve the aims and objectives of the country as set out in the National Strategic Plan on HIV, STIs and TB.
Why stigma and discrimination matter
Stigma and discrimination can be as devastating as the illness itself and may mean abandonment by a partner or family, social exclusion, job and property loss, school expulsion, denial of medical services, lack of care and support, and violence for those affected by them. These consequences, or fear of them, mean that people are less likely to come in for HIV testing, disclose their HIV status to others, adopt HIV preventive behaviour or access treatment, care and support.
Every sexually active South African is at risk of contracting HIV. We call on all South Africans to recognise that HIV/AIDS are chronic diseases, and that people living with HIV can have full and happy lives. We each have a responsibility to treat those who are struggling with an HIV-positive diagnosis with compassion, those struggling with AIDS with care, and ourselves and our sexual partners with respect. Addressing stigma and discrimination is important in mitigating the impact of HIV.
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