By Dylan Bettencourt
- Testing for young people, pregnant women and babies has dropped by as much as 21%.
- Many clinics have closed, and stigma is stopping people from getting the help they need.
Thousands of South Africans are no longer getting tested for HIV, and pregnant women, babies and young people are suffering the most.
New figures seen by Reuters show a big drop in HIV testing over the last two months. Experts say this could lead to more infections and deaths.
South Africa has more people living with HIV than any other country. One in five adults has the virus. For years, the United States has helped by paying for part of South Africa’s HIV programme through PEPFAR. But that help has now stopped.
The funding once paid for 15,000 HIV workers. Now, many of them are gone. Some clinics have shut down, and the ones still open are overcrowded. Groups like sex workers and gay men are also facing stigma when they go for help.
Government numbers show the damage:
- Testing for young people aged 15 to 24 fell by 17.2%
- Testing for pregnant women dropped by 21.3%
- Testing for babies fell by 19.9%
Experts say when people skip tests, they may stop treatment or spread HIV without knowing it.
“These are shocking figures,” said Francois Venter from the Ezintsha Research Centre. “They have a serious effect on the health of mothers and babies.”
Foster Mohale from the Department of Health said there were already problems before the funding ended. But others say the government is not telling the full truth about the damage.
In Cape Town, researcher Dvora Joseph Davey said clinics don’t have enough nurses to do basic blood tests. She said pregnant women are no longer being offered HIV prevention treatment.
In Diepsloot, activist Sophy Moatshe said stigma is keeping people away from clinics.
“If there is nobody to check them, they’re going to die,” she said.
It’s still not clear if the US will give more help in the future, but experts warn that this may be just the start of a bigger crisis.
Pictured above: HIV test.
Image source: @UNICEFAfrica
