The Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers Responsible for HIV/AIDS in Durban is currently underway.
Image: Photo: KZN Health Department Facebook
Fear and stigma are discouraging HIV testing in Phoenix and Chatsworth, while a local organisation reports a 36% increase in STIs among people it tested this year.
Community leaders say fear, stigma and limited public discussion are discouraging residents from testing for HIV, while a local organisation reports a 36% rise in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among people it tested, this year.
This as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Health Ministers convene at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban for a joint meeting to tackle the HIV/AIDS scourge.
DSK founder Dr Daniel Rudy Chettiar told the post.co.za that the turnout for testing in Phoenix communities was often poor.
"We have mobile clinics to test people and most times the turnout is poor. Most times people do not want to know if they have HIV or not. This is a serious issue because early detection saves lives," he said.
"The problem is getting worse over the years. Most people are focused on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and sadly the HIV pandemic has taken a backseat," he added.
Chettiar said stigma associated with HIV continued to grow in communities and most people opt not to test due to fear of this.
He said that while they worked with the communities, government also needed to play a part by visiting these communities and driving awareness.
"We cannot pressurise the community. We also cannot get data that gives us the full picture of the issue. From our data we have seen a 36% increase this year in STIs among the people who do get tested, and that paints a grim picture of the issue at hand," he added.
Community leader Dr Brandon Pillay, said that he believed that we needed to ask an uncomfortable but necessary question: Have we reached a point where HIV is something we can openly discuss around our dinner tables, within our families, our places of worship and our communities, or does the stigma attached to the virus still prevent us from having these conversations?
"While there has undoubtedly been progress in HIV awareness, education, testing and treatment, I believe we still have a long way to go in addressing the social stigma surrounding HIV, particularly at the community and family level.
“The reality is that HIV is not simply a health issue; it is also a social issue. It is about how we treat people, how we respond to their circumstances and whether we create an environment in which people feel safe enough to seek testing, access treatment and speak openly about their status without fear of discrimination, rejection or judgement," he said.
Pillay revealed that in Chatsworth conversations about the virus was not open and free.
"In communities such as Chatsworth, where family structures, cultural values, traditions and religious beliefs play an important role in everyday life, we need to be honest about the fact that certain conversations remain uncomfortable. HIV is often discussed in hushed tones, through assumptions, or only when someone becomes seriously ill. We must ask why this is still the case," he said.
According to a National Health Department statement, HIV will be among the pressing health issues discussed at the this week’s meeting.
The statement stated that the week-long meeting would focus on crucial health issues including solidarity during disease outbreaks and local manufacturing of medical products. HIV/AIDS, malaria and the region's disease burden.
"The SADC Health Ministers will review progress toward HIV epidemic control and the 95-95-95 targets, strengthen access to prevention, treatment and care, and accelerate malaria control and elimination through cross-border surveillance, vector control and equitable access to essential commodities."