More HIV prevention interventions needed - Maile
Acting Premier of Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG), Lebogang Maile says the country still has a chance of decreasing HIV/AIDS infections among young people.
The Human Sciences Research Council revealed that though South Africa has the highest number of HIV cases, it has in the last five years reduced the percentage of its population infected with the virus.
However, the impact of the nation's HIV epidemic disproportionately affects Black South Africans, women and young people.
The survey further revealed that, of persons 15 years and older living with the virus in South Africa, 90% were aware of their HIV-positive status, 91% of those aware of their status were on antiretroviral medication, and the virus was suppressed in 94% of those using this therapy.
Speaking on Friday during the world AIDS day commemoration held at the Saul Tsotetsi sports complex in Sebokeng, Maile said, the country must continue to utilise the HIV prevention interventions put in place to decrease HIV/AIDS cases even further.
"Although there is a steady decline of 44% in the number of new HIV infections amongst young people aged between 15 and 24, between the years 2016 and 2023. There is stil an opportunity of decreasing this rate even further through HIV prevention initiatives targeted at these specific groups."
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