House Chairperson,

Our country continues to make remarkable progress in the prevalence of HIV. In 2023, the Human Sciences Research Council reported that the percentage of all people living with HIV in South Africa decreased from 14% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022, translating to about 7.8 million people living with HIV in 2022 compared to 7.9 million in 2017.

Despite such positive inroads, HIV prevalence in the country remains high, with women and girls being disproportionately affected. Women accounted for nearly 64% of infections in 2021, with black women aged 25-34 years having the highest prevalence, at 31.6%, and highest incidence, at 4.5%. Such findings are indicative of our society’s socioeconomic disparities and gender inequalities which continue to make women inclined to abuse and violence, which compromises their health and lives.

We must also continue to move the needle on the unique vulnerabilities, health needs and access challenges faced by key groups in our society such as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, sex workers, and drug users. We condemn in the strongest terms, the continued victimisation and mistreatment these groups continue to face, not only in some health facilities but also in broader society. Stigma and discrimination play a pivotal role in acting as a barrier to accessing healthcare and thus, we implore the government to continue making strides to address and close these gaps in line with our constitutional obligation, which guarantees everyone the right to life and health.

In this regard, we applaud the efforts to decriminalize sex work with an emphasis on expanding access to healthcare and ensuring safer working conditions. Furthermore, we are pleased with the explicit identification of vulnerable groups such as members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the 2023-2028 National Strategic Plan for HIV, including targeted programs for at-risk groups such as men who have sex with men.

We also commend the vital role played by Youth Zones in addressing challenges confronting young people. With over 2100 primary healthcare facilities with Youth Zones, we anticipate that young people will be encouraged to access healthcare in safe and tailored spaces, to meet their health needs.

We live in a fast-growing digitalized world and must continuously find innovative ways to adapt and leverage these resources to expand access to knowledge, in a simplified and accessible manner. The B-Wise health platform remains relevant as an educational and interactive tool to engage young people with information on HIV prevention, mental health and sexual reproductive health.

Furthermore, we note with enthusiasm the strides being made in the pilots of the injectable PrEP to prevent HIV. Such interventions are critical in ensuring long-term protection and we encourage further research in these areas

The fight against HIV cannot be won in isolation from a range of socio-economic and psycho-social factors such as poverty, food insecurity, healthcare, drug abuse, lifestyle and adherence to the ART regimen. These factors are detrimental to improved health outcomes by exacerbating people’s vulnerabilities, increasing exposure to violence, and limiting sex education and prevention.

Poverty denies people access to good nutrition, impairs people’s immune systems and makes it difficult for people to have privacy and adhere to their treatment. To this end, we must continue to strengthen our social security programs such as social grants which not only cushion people’s economic vulnerabilities but have also been linked to improved health outcomes. Of course, as we enhance social protection, we must be resolute about growing the economy and creating jobs.

Thus, we require an intersectional approach to dealing with HIV, grounding it in tailored interventions which address key affected groups as well as resolving our country’s socioeconomic barriers which create a breeding ground for vulnerabilities and poor management of HIV infections and increase the rise of new infections. The antidote to reduce infections, can and must be the UNAIDS Programme on HIV/AIDS, whose premise is that 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of people living with HIV, receive their ART and 95% of those living with HIV, achieve viral suppression.

We must continue educational programs which promote health as a fundamental human right and support the successful implementation of the NHI, to ensure expansion of access to quality healthcare for all.

Thank you.