DESPITE being the province with the most HIV-related deaths, the KwaZulu-Natal Aids Council yesterday said latest figures showed that the battle against the pandemic was under control.
The council, chaired by Premier Zweli Mkhize, met on Wednesday in Pietermaritzburg where the findings were discussed, including a report on the male circumcision.
Mkhize said when compared to 22percent of mother-to-child infections in 2005, the HIV rate had dropped significantly to 2,8percent in 2010
"We are grateful for this success, and we encourage everyone in government and in communities to ensure that no child in our province is born with HIV and no child gets infected at a later stage," said Mkhize.
He said more than 10000 male circumcisions had been conducted by the Department of Health utilising the Tara Klamp and that all those circumcised using this method were alive and had not suffered any bodily harm.
Mkhize, however, voiced concerns about the rate of girls being infected with HIV and blamed "sugar daddies" as the cause. He urged communities to do voluntary testing, stressing its importance in early intervention.
Provincial Treatment Action Campaign spokesperson Ntombizonke Ndlovu confirmed that the mother-to-child rate in the province was on the decline, but expressed concerns that the infections were now "post-delivery".
Ndlovu said despite the current awareness programmes, communities still needed additional education on the diseases.
She applauded the male circumcision programme, saying that not only did it reduce chances of contracting HIV, but it also decreased chances of being diagnosed with penile cancer.
We're winning battle against HIV, says Mkhize
DESPITE being the province with the most HIV-related deaths, the KwaZulu-Natal Aids Council yesterday said latest figures showed that the battle against the pandemic was under control.
The council, chaired by Premier Zweli Mkhize, met on Wednesday in Pietermaritzburg where the findings were discussed, including a report on the male circumcision.
Mkhize said when compared to 22percent of mother-to-child infections in 2005, the HIV rate had dropped significantly to 2,8percent in 2010
"We are grateful for this success, and we encourage everyone in government and in communities to ensure that no child in our province is born with HIV and no child gets infected at a later stage," said Mkhize.
He said more than 10000 male circumcisions had been conducted by the Department of Health utilising the Tara Klamp and that all those circumcised using this method were alive and had not suffered any bodily harm.
Mkhize, however, voiced concerns about the rate of girls being infected with HIV and blamed "sugar daddies" as the cause. He urged communities to do voluntary testing, stressing its importance in early intervention.
Provincial Treatment Action Campaign spokesperson Ntombizonke Ndlovu confirmed that the mother-to-child rate in the province was on the decline, but expressed concerns that the infections were now "post-delivery".
Ndlovu said despite the current awareness programmes, communities still needed additional education on the diseases.
She applauded the male circumcision programme, saying that not only did it reduce chances of contracting HIV, but it also decreased chances of being diagnosed with penile cancer.
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