A report on the prevalence of HIV and syphilis among women attending public antenatal clinics has been finalised and is to be released before the end of July, the Health Department said on Thursday.
The results are an important barometer of the spread of HIV/Aids and the efficacy of the government’s programmes.
The survey is conducted in October every year and the results are usually released in the second quarter of the following year. Although the results were expected before the end of June, the department has blamed logistical difficulties for the delay.
Sibani Mngadi, spokesperson for the Minister of Health said in a media statement the department was doing its best to ensure that the results will be released before the end of July.
Mngadi said: ”The department regards HIV/Aids and STDs [sexually transmitted diseases] as major challenges and it is constantly scaling up its response to these diseases in terms of budget allocation and programme implementation.
”Since 1998, the outcome of this survey indicated that the HIV infection rate was levelling out and the level of syphilis was on a sharp decrease.
”In statistical terms, the 1,7% increase in the 2002 figures (26,5 %) from 2001 figure (24,8%) is not significant. This pattern has been sustained for four consecutive years.
”Also sustained for the fourth year is a slight drop in the HIV prevalence rate among pregnant teenagers. Again, this decrease is too small to be statistically significant.”
Mngadi said that the results seemed to indicate that government’s efforts were beginning to render positive results by slowing down the increase in the infection rate.
”It looks as if we are getting close to the stabilisation of this epidemic.” – Sapa