NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 201
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 OCTOBER 2014
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 18)
Ms E Prins (ANC-WC) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) (a) What is the latest HIV/Aids statistics in South Africa and (b)
how does this compare with the rest of Africa;
(2) whether South Africa is winning the fight against HIV/Aids; if not,
what corrective and awareness measures are being taken by the
Government in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
CW306E
REPLY:
1) (a) Currently according to the Human Sciences Research Council
(HSRC) report of 2012, South Africa has a prevalence of 12% in
the general population and the incidence of 1.7%. The prevalence
has increased from 10.2% in 2008 and this can be attributed to
the successful Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) programme which
translates to the fact that most South Africans living with HIV
are living longer. The South African incidence is stabilising
from 2.2% in 2002, 1.9% in 2005, 1.9% in 2008 and 1.7% in 2012.
The South African epidemic is generalised and is comparable to
most African countries.
(b) South Africa, when compared to other African countries, has the
highest HIV burden using the number of people living with HIV.
UNAIDS HIV and AIDS estimates 2013, though this could be
attributed to the fact that people are living longer with HIV
due to the successful ART treatment programme.
2) The HIV incidence in a population is critical for evaluation of HIV
prevention programmes. The HIV incidence as described above suggests
that HIV infections among adults aged 15-49 years has stabilised.
Therefore it can be deduced that as a country we are making a
significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In addition, the National Department of Health in collaboration with
development partners and non-governmental organisations conduct
awareness and media campaigns and targeted community mobilisation
events in health districts where HIV prevalence is relatively high.
These campaigns are also taken to institutions of higher learning
where adolescents are targeted. These campaigns create demand for HIV
Counselling and Testing, Medical Male Circumcision, TB and Non-
Communicable Diseases. The campaigns include amongst other initiatives
the First Things First Campaign, Brothers For Life and Kick TB
initiatives.
A total of 1Â 636 ward-based outreach teams that support households and
individuals have been established. They trace and track patients and
ensure that they are retained in care for better clinical outcomes.
The teams are supported by approximately 45Â 000 Home-based carers. The
Home-based carers provide adherence counselling, treatment literacy
and education to ART patients. The aim is to retain patients on
lifelong treatment, thus contributing to an improved lifespan in South
Africa.
END