JOHANNESBURG - Despite inroads made in the fight against HIV/AIDs, Stats SA reports that HIV prevalence has increased from 8.3% in 2002 to 12.3% in 2026.
Desmond Tutu HIV Centre Director Prof Linda-Gail Bekker says these figures reflect both progress and ongoing challenges.
“The good news is it means that people are dying less of HIV, and this is because we have rolled out the biggest HIV treatment program in the world. So, people are living longer with HIV and living into good old age.
“The bad news is that we also need to reduce new infections. That means primary prevention of HIV, and we have done less in doing that in the last few years,” she explained.
According to Bekker, attention should now shift to HIV prevention, which includes creating access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
“This is where we use antiretroviral therapies in people who are not living with HIV to prevent them from getting HIV. And the most recent of this is the Lenacapivir rollout or oral PrEP rollout.”
Bekker also called for the need to tackle stigmas that still exist, which keep people from reaching out to get treatment.
“People need to step forward if they're at risk of exposure to HIV, take on board this antiretroviral agent, either in the form of an injection Lenacapivir or as oral PrEP to prevent themselves from actually acquiring HIV. This is our most recent tool and the one we're trying to roll out across the country," she said.