South Africans have come in numbers on X (the social media platform formally known as Twitter) discussing the shocking statistics of HIV/AIDS in the country – this comes after learning that 7.8 million out of the 59 million people in the country were living with HIV/AIDS as recorded in 2022 by the Department of Science and Innovation.
‘THAT’S HUGE’: SOUTH AFRICANS ON HIV/AIDS STATISTICS
According to the department, although the number may seem high, it is a huge decrease from the previous numbers recorded in 2017. In fact, it’s said that the number has decreased from a whopping 14 per cent in 2017 to 12.7 per cent in 2022.
Professor Khangelani Zuma, the Divisional Executive of the Public Health is said to have highlighted some of the factors contributing to the decreasing statistics.
“These factors include fewer people getting infected with HIV, more children born HIV-negative, AIDS-related mortality, and people aging and dying from natural causes. The increase in the population (birth of HIV-negative babies) would also increase the denominator of HIV-negative people in the country. The epidemic curve also shows an aging population of people living with HIV who are living longer as the epidemic stabilises,” Professor Zuma was quoted as saying.
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