The National Health Department says its efforts to track those who have tested positive for HIV and those who have stopped taking medication have started to show positive results. This, as South Africa joins other countries in commemorating World Aids Day today.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is leading the national event at the Masemola Stadium in the Sekhukhune district in Limpopo.
The department’s Chief Director for HIV/AIDS, Gugu Shabangu says they are determined to increase the number of those who need medication.
“Our target was 1.1 million and to date, we have managed to bring 949 023 people. We are sitting at 62% in this campaign; however, I must indicate that at the same time we are also losing our clients and those that we are losing are not the very same cohort, but it means just that our clients are coming back to our facilities, but at the same time some are going out.”
Shabangu adds, “So our main challenge is to ensure that once we get all of them back, we retain them on treatment so that we are able to achieve our 95%.”
VIDEO | SANAC observes World AIDS Day:
