Source: ewn.co.za<\/p>\n
DURBAN – The uMkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal is celebrating after reaching its target set by the\u00a0United Nations (UN)\u00a0in the fight against HIV and Aids.<\/p>\n
The target was set by the joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids in 2013.<\/p>\n
It stipulates that by 2020, 90% of people infected with HIV should know their status. Around 90% of those who test positive should receive treatment, while 90% of those on antiretrovirals should have viral suppression.<\/p>\n
The uMkhanyakude District is one of the poorest and underdeveloped regions in South Africa.<\/p>\n
And through the help of the government and foreign aid, it has become the third area to achieve the 90-90-90 goals set by the United Nations.<\/p>\n
The first two were the uMzinyathi and Ugu districts, also in KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n
Health Minister\u00a0Zweli Mkhize\u00a0on Thursday said this achievement was the result of political will, strategic partnerships and use of modern technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a testament that government, working together with everyone, can achieve the vision of a healthy society.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said by achieving the UN\u2019s 90-90-90 targets, the uMkhanyakude district was on its way to defeating HIV and Aids.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means 90% of the people in uMkhanyakude have tested and know their status, 90% are on ARVs and 90% are virally suppressed and therefore cannot transmit the virus to others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teenage girls and young women account for most of the new HIV infections.<\/p>\n
Mkhize said through government interventions, strategic partnerships with communities and foreign aid, the district was headed towards a brighter future.<\/p>\n
On Friday when he visits the area, the minister hopes to promote the national health insurance in the region.<\/p>\n
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu is also expected there.<\/p>\n
Almost eight million people are living with HIV and Aids in South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal has the highest prevalence, accounting for around 24% of that figure.<\/p>\n
Mkhize hopes the whole country will reach the 90-90-90 target by the end of next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[2337,2599,2598,1296],"class_list":["post-3574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aids-hiv","tag-hiv-aids-3","tag-kwazulu-natal","tag-umkhanyakude","tag-united-nations"],"yoast_head":"\n