More pregnant women infected with Aids virus
The HIV-prevalence among pregnant women in the country has increased from 29.4% to 30.2%, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says
“We’re still far from winning the war, but we are getting somewhere,” Motsoaledi said, releasing the National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence survey.
It was made public eight months later than expected.
Motsoaledi said there was a high degree of stabilisation in the percentage increase of pregnant women between ages 16 to 24 who were infected.
However there had been an upward spike between the ages of 24 and 39.
He applauded prevention methods addressing the younger ages as reasons why the numbers had stayed within the “confidence interval”.
In the last five years, the department had set a target of prevalence estimates between 29.4 and 30.9%.
He attributed the high HIV prevalence in the older category to a lack of ARVs and counselling.
“We must accept the number of people on ARVs as we need to...decrease infections,” he said.
According to the survey, KwaZulu-Natal still had the highest prevalence of HIV-infected pregnant women, while the Northern and Western Cape were the lowest.
While the figures were 'still within the government’s parameters', Motsoaledi said it would still continue to increase its ARV rollout and HIV/Aids prevention strategies.
“As many pregnant women as possible must be on ARVs,” he said.
“We believe our prevention methods might be reaching stability. With the younger ones the prevention methods may be working,” said Motsoaledi.
The department was obliged to release a report of nationwide HIV prevalence rates every year. So far, the annual release of the report had been late every year, Democratic Alliance spokesman Mike Waters said in a statement on Monday. The party had intended submitting an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act if the report was not released within 10 days.
somaartakeit
it is obvious why that is judging by comments from some bloggers of the Sowetan, if ppl can't appreciate their lives and try keep themselves and their unborn babies safe from being infected with the virus, then nature should take its course.Report Abuse
4Darkies
the prevalnce is caused by nyaope and by the carelessness of izifebe eidakwayo and feel horny...nxReport Abuse
Ntwaizini
Nyc one,any pregnant woman must test for HIV and act according after the testing based on the results.Report Abuse
TKay
People need to start taking care of themselves...the days of multiple partners are overReport Abuse
Onu
*nc nc nc* shanking my head with disbelief........we jst neva learn nhe!!Report Abuse
somaartakeit
@Onu one needs brains in order to learn, everyone by now knows the deadliness of aids and its ramifications to those who have to nurse the person suffering from it on his/her final stages and then you still get women who think that throwing themselves (after a couple of drinks in teh shebeen) to men they've just met is cool, well stupidity has its prices too, aids is price everyone who is sexually careless has to pay, and no sh0wer will rinse it away.the only real victims are the poor children born with it and rape victims, the manyobistos are a fair game everyone has to live with consequences of the choices they make.
Report Abuse
nyadzisai
You can get infected during the course of your pregnancy, and sex is recommended during pregnancy, so its tricky, thats why i will to a s...m bank, i dont trust any raw meat anymore.Report Abuse
WaTheF*ck
This is f*ckin amazing!!! Human beings being infected by HIV in 2011. Stop using ur brain as a sex organ.Report Abuse