By Kudakwashe Pembere
Ending AIDS by 2030 in the SADC region seems unlikely and may be delayed until 2060, given that some countries like South Africa and Madagascar are significantly behind
This was highlighted by Ms. Anne Githuku-Shongwe, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, during a SADC Ministers of Health meeting held last week in Harare.
So what does this mean for SADC, and how do we accelerate progress to end AIDS?” Githuku-Shongwe asked. “Recently, we were at a meeting in South Africa, and honorable Deputy Minister, it’s wonderful to see you again. That meeting was about accelerating the response in South Africa.
“And somebody did a quick calculation that suggested if we continue responding to AIDS at the current pace—particularly in terms of treatment and prevention—AIDS would only end by the year 2060. This calculation was done specifically for South Africa, but similar estimates could be made for other countries,” she explained.
“If we don’t speed up our efforts, we’re looking at a delay of 30 to 40 years from our initial expectations,” Githuku-Shongwe warned the SADC health ministers.
She also noted that the region missed its target to reduce new HIV infections to 130,000 by 2025.
“Let’s break down why we’re saying this. HIV prevention remains a major challenge. The target we set was 130,000 new infections by 2025. That deadline is almost here, but we’re still at 300,000 new infections every year in the southern region,” she stated.
Githuku-Shongwe pointed out there is a severe shortage of HIV testing kits in Madagascar, a country of 31 million with fewer than half a million test kits.
“We heard a troubling story from one of the regions where a member of parliament noticed her niece looking unusually thin. Suspecting HIV, she tried to get her tested, but HIV test kits are scarce in Madagascar. The entire country of 31 million has only 400,000 test kits, despite having 1.3 million births annually,” she shared.
Despite these challenges, she highlighted that the SADC region has a viral load suppression rate of over 90 percent, with countries like Zimbabwe having already surpassed the 95-95-95 targets.
“I come with good news. Usually, HIV discussions focus on challenges, but let me share some positive news. We’ve seen great progress in this region, with new HIV infections decreasing from 1.1 million to 450,000—a 59% drop. AIDS-related deaths also dropped from 600,000 to 260,000 between 2010 and 2023.
“HIV treatment in the region continues to expand. Several countries in the SADC region are recognized globally for their progress on the 95-95-95 targets. Currently, we have 84% treatment coverage, with about 94% of those treated achieving viral suppression. This is remarkable progress,” she said.
She also praised Zimbabwe’s HIV prevention program.
“Minister, Zimbabwe has excelled in HIV prevention, and many countries are looking to learn from your approach. Countries struggling with prevention could greatly benefit from Zimbabwe’s strategies. Sharing your knowledge generously could help lagging countries catch up,” Githuku-Shongwe urged.
