The study found that a total of 5.3 million South Africans under the age of 50 are HIV-positive, an increase of 5% since 2000.

According to the study, 21.3% of the HIV-positive South Africans live in the Free State, the second highest prevalence in the country after KwaZulu-Natal, which is leading with 24%. The Western Cape (10%), Northern Cape (11.5%), and Limpopo (13.2%) have the lowest rates.

However, Tefo Tabi, Head of the Free State Health Provincial Council on Aids, says the province has made progress in addressing the HIV epidemic, despite the province showing an upward trend in HIV prevalence.

He adds that what is a priority now is to ensure that people in the country have access to quality and safe health care.

Tabi also says despite their challenges, they still urge more people to test so that they would have a number of people who are provided with the necessary resources and care.

He says they need to do more research around what is driving the increase in the Free State.

He added that the province has made important gains in responding to the epidemic of HIV, but the response still requires to be accelerated to completely eliminate public health threats by 2030.

He says 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection will be receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) with the positive outlook that 90% of all people receiving ART will have viral suppression, which means the therapy will reduce a person’s viral load to an undetectable level.

OFM News/Michael Tlhakudi