The latest figures for 24 April 2006 are represented in the pie chart opposite.
All is not doom and gloom, however, as various programmes in place at clinics and hospitals [including Knysna Provincial Clinics and the Knysna Provincial Hospital] are yielding good results. At the Knysna HIV Clinic, three programmes are in place, namely the voluntary Counseling and Testing [VCT], the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, [PMTCT] and the Anti-retroviral Programme [ARV]
The Voluntary Counseling and Testing programme entails free testing, accompanied by pre-and after test counseling- Counseling which is compulsory, is done by by qualified personnel and highly confidential. Counseling must be done where testing is done. Counseling is also provided for TB, other sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Testing involves a mere pinprick to the finger and results are available within minutes.
The second programme- Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission - is provided free of charge to all HIV positive, pregnant mothers and is proving to be highly successful.
Preventative treatment is given during birth and to the baby after birth. Babies are tested after three months of age to determine their HIV status. To date the majority of babies born to HIV positive women are HIV negative as a result of PMTCT treatment. If babies do test positive, treatment is immediately started.
The PMTCT Programme also includes assisting mothers with feeding options. If mothers decide to breastfeed [which is not entirely dissuaded due to other benefits thereof] then they may do so only for three months. Thereafter, they have to switch to formula feeding. Mothers deciding to formula feed from birth, are given six months supply of formula free of charge.
The third programme Anti-retroviral Treatment [ARV] is also yielding excellent results, with many HIV positive patients , leading healthy normal lives. Patients with a CD 4 count of less than 200 [normal is 500 to 2000] are considered for this medication programme, which also include counseling and regular check-ups for related illnesses such as kidney and liver function, TB and other treatable diseases. ARV treatment involves regularly taking medication and regular visits to the HIV Clinic.
ARV treatment does not cure HIV/AIDS, but prohibits the virus from forming, growing and attacking the immune system. With a strong immune system the body can fight other diseases and the patient can live a much longer and healthier life. If medication stopped, the virus will grow again, making the patient ill again.
All is not doom and gloom, however, as various programmes in place at clinics and hospitals [including Knysna Provincial Clinics and the Knysna Provincial Hospital] are yielding good results. At the Knysna HIV Clinic, three programmes are in place, namely the voluntary Counseling and Testing [VCT], the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, [PMTCT] and the Anti-retroviral Programme [ARV]
The Voluntary Counseling and Testing programme entails free testing, accompanied by pre-and after test counseling- Counseling which is compulsory, is done by by qualified personnel and highly confidential. Counseling must be done where testing is done. Counseling is also provided for TB, other sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Testing involves a mere pinprick to the finger and results are available within minutes.
The second programme- Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission - is provided free of charge to all HIV positive, pregnant mothers and is proving to be highly successful.
Preventative treatment is given during birth and to the baby after birth. Babies are tested after three months of age to determine their HIV status. To date the majority of babies born to HIV positive women are HIV negative as a result of PMTCT treatment. If babies do test positive, treatment is immediately started.
The PMTCT Programme also includes assisting mothers with feeding options. If mothers decide to breastfeed [which is not entirely dissuaded due to other benefits thereof] then they may do so only for three months. Thereafter, they have to switch to formula feeding. Mothers deciding to formula feed from birth, are given six months supply of formula free of charge.
The third programme Anti-retroviral Treatment [ARV] is also yielding excellent results, with many HIV positive patients , leading healthy normal lives. Patients with a CD 4 count of less than 200 [normal is 500 to 2000] are considered for this medication programme, which also include counseling and regular check-ups for related illnesses such as kidney and liver function, TB and other treatable diseases. ARV treatment involves regularly taking medication and regular visits to the HIV Clinic.
ARV treatment does not cure HIV/AIDS, but prohibits the virus from forming, growing and attacking the immune system. With a strong immune system the body can fight other diseases and the patient can live a much longer and healthier life. If medication stopped, the virus will grow again, making the patient ill again.
HIV/AIDS Worldwide Statistics 2005
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 25.8m
- Asia: 8.3m
- High-income nations: 1.9m
- Latin America: 1.8m
- E Europe, C Asia: 1.6m
- Australasia, Pacific: 74,000
- N Africa, Mid East: 510,000
- Caribbean: 300,000
Statistics in the Greater Knysna Area
Current HIV/Aids Statistics
Judging by statistics of pregnant mothers tested for HIV/Aids at the Knysna Municipality Antenatal Clinic, Knysna and Plett have a very high prevalence of the virus. The good news, however, is that various programmes to fight the epidemic are in place and are yielding good results.
According to Antenatal Clinic [ANC] surveys, 15,6% of all pregnant women tested in Knysna and also 15,6% of women tested in Plett are HIV positive. This in comparison to other testings surveys done in Mosselbay 13,3%, George 11,6%, Oudtshoorn 5,4% and the Eden District Municipality area 5,4%.
The first detailed records of HIV/Aids testing in Knysna in June 2000, show 398 new HIV positive cases for that month- 14 of them were tested at the Municipal Clinic in town, 14 in Hornlee, 189 in White Location and 181 in Khayalethu. In October 2005 these numbers had risen to 45 new cases in town, 169 in Hornlee, 908 in White Location and 948 in Khayalethu, giving a total of 2070 new HIV positive cases for that month.
Judging by statistics of pregnant mothers tested for HIV/Aids at the Knysna Municipality Antenatal Clinic, Knysna and Plett have a very high prevalence of the virus. The good news, however, is that various programmes to fight the epidemic are in place and are yielding good results.
According to Antenatal Clinic [ANC] surveys, 15,6% of all pregnant women tested in Knysna and also 15,6% of women tested in Plett are HIV positive. This in comparison to other testings surveys done in Mosselbay 13,3%, George 11,6%, Oudtshoorn 5,4% and the Eden District Municipality area 5,4%.
The first detailed records of HIV/Aids testing in Knysna in June 2000, show 398 new HIV positive cases for that month- 14 of them were tested at the Municipal Clinic in town, 14 in Hornlee, 189 in White Location and 181 in Khayalethu. In October 2005 these numbers had risen to 45 new cases in town, 169 in Hornlee, 908 in White Location and 948 in Khayalethu, giving a total of 2070 new HIV positive cases for that month.