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The heavy cost of maintaining the 95-95-95

Treading water: All data indicates that if the rate of HIV infections is not reduced, the country at some point will not be able to afford the 95-95-95s PIC: PHOTO MON
Treading water: All data indicates that if the rate of HIV infections is not reduced, the country at some point will not be able to afford the 95-95-95s PIC: PHOTO MON

Government is spending just over P1 billion each year on HIV interventions, including tests and ARVs. Experts warn that as long as new infections remain stubbornly high every year, the ability to maintain the coveted HIV containment targets set by the UN, may slip away. MBONGENI MGUNI & NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE report

As admirable as attaining the 95-95-95 targets is, the UNAIDS’ objectives comes at a cost.

Announced nearly a decade ago as a way of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, UNAIDS set the 95-95-95 targets with the aim that by 2025, 95% of all people living with HIV would know their status, 95% of those who were diagnosed would be on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), and 95% of those who were on ARVs would have viral load suppression.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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