MPUMALANGA – Nkangala District has demonstrated the lowest HIV/AIDS infection rate in comparison to the other two districts within the province.
As per the report unveiled by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) during a provincial dialogue held in eMalahleni on Tuesday, September 17, the HIV prevalence in Nkangala stands at 13.1%, while Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni have recorded rates of 20.5% and 16% respectively.
The information is derived from the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behavior Survey (SABSSM VI) conducted in Mpumalanga between 2022 and 2023.
Nkangala displayed the lowest Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) utilization at 77.9% and Viral Load Suppression (VLS) of 79.8%.
The survey further unveiled that nearly 28.2% of women in Ehlanzeni, 20.6% in Gert Sibande and 22.6% in Nkangala had never undergone testing.
Additionally, 59.1% of females in Ehlanzeni, 62.3% in Gert Sibande and 54.7% in Nkangala had received HIV testing in the past 3 years, while 33.5% of males in Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande (26.9%) and Nkangala (26.6%) had never been tested for HIV.
Makekulu Sithole (50) from Waterval in the Dr JS Moroka municipality mentioned that she has been undergoing ARV treatment for more than 15 years now, and she is in good health, with her viral load effectively suppressed. Despite this, her husband remains reluctant to undergo testing.
“My husband is the only man I know, we have been together for 34 years and when I was diagnosed with HIV in 2009 I knew that he was the one who gave it to me because he has a child outside our marriage,” she said.
The survey also indicates that Mpumalanga, in contrast to other provinces, exhibited the highest HIV prevalence at 17.4% in 2022, signifying that an estimated 890,000 individuals are currently living with HIV in the province.
Moreover, approximately 630 000 of those infected with HIV are undergoing Antiretroviral Treatment (ART).
The survey also shows that 43.0% of sexually active adults aged 15 years and above in Mpumalanga were aware of the Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication, with 8.4% having utilized it.
The Mpumalanga health department indicated that the survey demonstrates a rise in the infection rate and an extended lifespan for individuals afflicted with HIV.
Furthermore, the department elucidated that in comparison to other provinces, their medical team collaborates closely with patients to ensure that all individuals who are HIV positive achieve viral suppression through treatment.
“As a result, the virus cannot be spread, which means that all their efforts to put all those whom they diagnose as HIV positive on HIV treatment is yielding good results,” said spokesperson Dumisane Malamule
“The prevalence rate was standing at 43% in 2013. This study indicates massive improvement because in 2022, the province was at 17,4%.”
HSRC executive director Professor Khangelani Zuma proposed a comprehensive long-term strategy to provide care for individuals in an aging HIV epidemic, along with tailored interventions to address deficiencies in the clinical cascade at the district, locality, and subpopulation levels.
“We also recommend a continued focus on increasing coverage and demand for medical male
circumcision among males aged 15 years and older. We must also enhance public awareness and
uptake of effective HIV prevention measures, such as regular HIV testing, condoms and PrEP,” he concluded.
