While the world focuses on Covid-19, the United Nations (UN) has not lost sight of the ravages of HIV and Aids, which have claimed more than 33 million lives over the past 40 years.
The UN issued a statement on 11 June, urging nations around the world to ensure that people living with HIV are at the heart of efforts to stamp out the epidemic by 2030.
The world body was reflecting on four decades of the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes Aids, and specifically the world’s response to bringing the deadly disease under control.
It called on nations to prioritise community-based service delivery and programmes to protect women against violence as they are key in a comprehensive response to the HIV/Aids pandemic.
While the extra burden brought about by the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic is cause for concern for Aids activists, a North-West University (NWU) professor believes that the greatest factors for Covid-19 mortality are obesity and diabetes.
“Tuberculosis (TB) itself and HIV also contribute significantly - but to a far lesser extent - than obesity and diabetes,” says Prof Andrew Robinson, deputy dean for strategy and business development at the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences.
“Knowing the high prevalence of TB and HIV in South Africa, their impact has been less than what was predicted at the start of the pandemic.”
He says South Africa’s HIV treatment programme has improved the general level of immunity of those in care, which actually reduces the risk of any infection, including Covid-19.
“What is of concern is the impact of diverting all the health system resources to Covid-19. All TB and HIV programmes have suffered, with people not getting access to their chronic medications - a far bigger threat than that of Covid-19.”
In recent years, Prof Robinson and the NWU have been instrumental in training primary healthcare workers, many of whom provide much-needed assistance to HIV patients in the North West Province.
Meanwhile, the country has moved to Alert Level 3 following an average daily Covid-19 infection rate in the thousands. Five of the country’s nine provinces are reported to be in the third wave, with the rest about to enter it soon, which means hospital staff are once again overwhelmed by admissions.
Members of the public are requested to continue to observe all Covid-19 protocols including washing hands and sanitising regularly, as well as observing social distancing to prevent the disease from spreading.
