Serowe faces HIV services disruptions
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday June 16, 2025 11:56
According to the District Development Committee (DDC) report covering the period from January 1 to March 31, 2025, presented before the full council meeting this week, only 2, 937 clients were tested for HIV, down from 3, 709 in the previous quarter. Additionally, the number of non-citizens tested also declined, with only 85 individuals tested this quarter compared to 148 previously. On a positive note, the report highlights that all health facilities in the district continue to provide HIV testing services. Moving forward, the council plans to prioritise high-risk groups for testing and conduct support visits to health facilities to strengthen service delivery. Regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART), the report states that there are currently 15, 117 active HIV-positive patients registered and receiving treatment. Moreover, 108 children aged 12 years and below are currently on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).
“The total number of patients on ART with detectable viral load (VL) is 197. The National target is 95%, while we are at 99.37% viral suppression-valid results. The target is 95%, and we are at 99.6% retention. Our achievement is that New ART guideline updates cascaded to programme implementers (nurses, midwives, HCA, HEA/SHEA, LAB, Pharmacy, Lay counsellor),” the report states. However, the report pointed out that the challenge is shortage of lab reagents, clients given shorter review dates, and multi-month drug dispensing not done due to a shortage of some ART drugs-clients refilling monthly. It also states that the way forward is to conduct district data cleaning.
On the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), new ANC Attendees/Registered Mothers are 493 compared to 409 in the previous quarter. The report further states that the number registered with a valid HIV negative status is 19, while the number registered with known HIV Positive status stands at 67, compared to 63 in the last quarter. The number registered while already on HAART is 67, as compared to 63 in the previous one. The number of women who tested and received their results stands at 406, compared to 327 in the last quarter. The number of women who tested HIV positive is four, while the previous quarter was nine.
The number of HIV Positive women initiated on ART is four, while the previous number was nine. The number of women not tested for HIV is one, while the previous was zero. The number of women who delivered in the facilities is 454, while last quarter was 325,” the report also indicated. The report said the number of women who were delivered with an HIV-positive status was 79, while last quarter was 72. With that regard, it reveals that the number of women who were on ART during ANC is 79, while previously it was 72. In addition, it says the total number of babies born to HIV positive mothers is 79 and 72 last quarter. It continued: “The number of babies tested for HIV (PCR) is 151 and last quarter is 155. The number of babies tested at 18 months is 41, and last quarter we had 54. The number of partners tested for HIV is 38, and previously it was five, while the number of partners who tested HIV positive is 38, and last quarter was five.” Meanwhile, on Tuberculosis (TB), the report said they have registered 30 cases this quarter, which comprises 20 males and 10 females.
There are four new EPTB cases recorded, and there are 26 new EPTB cases. “There are 24 new smear POS cases this quarter. The achievements are in ongoing service lectures at the facility level. The challenges are low contact tracing done in the quarter. Unavailability of anti-TB drugs as from 01/04/2025. The way forward is to conduct support and mentorship visits in clinics and advocate for TB case management trainings,” the report says. The report covers DHMT report (HTS, ART, PMTCT, TB, CHBC, Condom Programming, STI, cervical cancer screening, SMC, EPI, Notifiable diseases, drug availability), Environmental Health, Social and Community Development. Unfortunately, Food Relief Services (FRS) did not report.