The HIV/Aids activist and spokesperson for Free State HIV and Aids Coalition, Sello Mkhalipi, told hundreds of people in attendance at the commemoration of World Aids Day held in Bloemfontein on Thursday 1 December 2022, that the province has too many people who are not on medication.

He says the province has the highest number of HIV defaulters emanating from the challenges within the province. Mkhalipi has blamed the challenges at the health facilities, and the health systems in the province including the stock out.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has revealed that the Free State province was among the three provinces with the highest HIV prevalence rates in 2021.*

Phaahla delivered his speech on behalf of Deputy President David Mabuza who failed to make it to this event in Bloemfontein.

He said in 2021, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Free State provinces had the highest HIV prevalence rates at 18.3%, 15.9%, and 14.8%, respectively, while the Western Cape had the lowest at 8.3%, followed by the Northern Cape at 10%.

OFM News previously reported that the estimations suggest that the country records 150 new cases of HIV among young people between the ages of 15 to 24.

Phaahla has also since praised the province for doing exceptionally well in terms of testing, having already surpassed the 94% threshold.

"The overall population served by the public and private sectors in the province is now at 94% of people who are living with HIV knowing their status; 86% of those who know their status are on antiretroviral treatment; and 92% of those who are on treatment are virally suppressed.

But it concerns that three of the province's districts don't meet the goal of increasing the number of people who know their status and get treatment.

Furthermore, results from the districts of Xhariep and Lejweleputswa demonstrate that people with HIV and on treatment fare poorly on the target of being virally suppressed, Phaahla added.

OFM News