Driefontein - More than four million people have taken an HIV test since the launch of the HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign (HCT) in April this year.
Addressing hundreds of Driefontein residents during World Aids Day on Wednesday, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said that 4.6 million people have been tested, with 5.5 million having received counselling for HIV since the campaign launched.
"Over 800 000 tested positive for HIV. We also screened some of those who were tested for TB. A total of about 2.5 million people were screened for TB, whilst 412 000 were referred for further diagnostic tests for TB," Motlanthe said.
President Jacob Zuma launched the HCT campaign in April. It aims to promote HIV counselling and testing, urges all people to know their HIV status and be screened for TB. The campaign targets to test 15 million people by June 2011.
It also focuses on screening for a range of other health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
Motlanthe noted that South Africa carries a high burden of HIV and TB, with a co-infection rate of 73 percent.
"All public health facilities will provide prophylaxis to prevent TB in those with HIV infection, as it is the major cause of death among people who are HIV positive. These deaths are preventable and we can reduce this mortality," said the Deputy President.
Encouraging people to use centres for HCT, Beauty Grootboom, who is living with HIV, said that a lot of people were still in denial.
"We must admit it, be brave and be strong," said Grootboom.
Nkululeko Nxesi, from the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, acknowledged government's efforts and reaffirmed civil society's partnership with government to achieve the HCT campaign target.
"It starts with knowing your status in order to get support and access to treatment. The campaign has received positive response from the public as more people are coming forward and getting tested. We will work with government to ensure that we reach the target next year," Nxesi said.
Up to a million people are now on ARV treatment. Deputy President Motlanthe said that more than 200 000 new patients have been initiated on ARVs since April this year, with more than 3 126 nurses being trained to administer treatment.
"Between April and September, 20 000 pregnant women were initiated on ARV treatment, compared to15 000 during the same period last year. This represents a 28 percent increase in 2010 compared to 2009.
"We must therefore encourage pregnant women in our communities to seek care early during pregnancy, so that they and their children can avail themselves of the programmes that government is providing," Motlanthe said, noting that this would help reduce the number of babies born with HIV.
