Pretoria – The KwaZulu-Natal HIV and Aids Council will launch a nationwide campaign aimed at clamping down on dishonest individuals claiming to have a cure for Aids.
During the sitting of the Provincial Aids Council on Tuesday at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg, the council agreed unanimously to work with the relevant authorities to curb this unscrupulous practice.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu, who is the chairperson of the KZN Aids Council, said that despite government’s message that there is no cure for Aids, some media platforms continue to flight adverts that are misleading, which may lead to people indulging in unprotected sex.
“Our greatest concern is that those on antiretroviral therapy will default and eventually develop drug-resistant viral strains, which will have devastating consequences,” Mchunu said.
He said that the council has agreed to work with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and Standards Authority of South Africa in order to remove advertisements of scientifically untested and unapproved medicines for Aids.
“Importantly, the Medicine Controls Council Act states that no person shall publish or distribute or in any other manner whatsoever bring to the notice of the public or cause any false or misleading advertisement concerning any medicine; or in any advertisement make any claim to the effect that the therapeutic efficacy and effect of any medicine.
No cure for Aids
“Our message is that there is no cure for Aids but we can win the war if we reach more infected people quickly and when we treat them immediately. The progress report which has been presented before the Provincial Aids Council indicates that it is possible to achieve universal access to quality healthcare, especially for people with HIV,” Mchunu said.
The council also discussed ways of improving Aids awareness campaigns as well as health promotion activities, and singled out a campaign on treatment adherence as well as testing and counselling for confirmed HIV patients as top priority.
Mchunu said young people hold the key to the future but unfortunately, as they grow, they are increasingly exposed to reproductive health risks such as sexual transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
“The council has agreed that the campaign on behavioural change targeted at young people would be intensified.”
The campaign on testing and counselling has resulted in about 2 186 302 HIV tests being conducted. Out of these, 314 826 tested positive. The number of HIV tests conducted has also increased by 3%. The testing coverage based on provincial population is at about 21% compared to 20% previously.
The council has also managed to ensure the reduction in HIV antenatal prevalence from 39.5% in 2010 to 37.4% in 2011. UMzinyathi District Municipality is among the 20 top districts in the country, with the lowest prevalence at 24.6%.
However, nine KZN districts are among the top 20 districts in the country with the highest prevalence. The districts include Ugu with 41.1%, uMkhanyakude 41.1% and Sisonke 39.9%.
Scaling up on Medical Male Circumcision
The council noted progress made in the scaling up of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC), with 269 586 males circumcised.
There is an increase in the number of males undergoing medical circumcision by 24% compared to 19% previously. Coverage increased to 5% from 1%, with eThekwini Municipality at 34 717, uMkhanyakude District 10 398 and Uthungulu District 11 809.
It was also noted that all the 11 districts have established District Aids Councils, with about five of them considered to be fully functional. All the Local Aids Councils have been established and of the 823 wards, 400 ward Aids Committees have been established and trained. Of the trained, 105 are fully functional. – SAnews.gov.za
