
Number of over 50s living with HIV doubles in a decade
JOHANNESBURG - The face of HIV in South Africa is changing — and it's growing older.
A new analysis by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism shows that the number of people over 50 living with HIV has more than doubled in the last decade.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Daily Maverick
This week in Civil Society — Unpacking food safety, discussion on decolonising conservation and tackling youth in crisis
From food systems and pharmaceutical transparency to HIV justice, decolonising conservation, and youth activism — this week features a series of thought-provoking webinars hosted by Heala, Sanac, Plaas, HJI, and others. On Monday, 9 June, Heala will host a webinar on a holistic approach to health and food systems at 2pm. The webinar will explore how ultra-processed foods, policy gaps, and industry interference contribute to rising non-communicable diseases, obesity, and child malnutrition in South Africa. 'We'll unpack why grants like R530 fall short, highlight the need for stronger policies like Front-of-Pack Warning Labels and the Health Promotion Levy, and spotlight the essential role of caregivers, health workers, and school nutrition programmes in building healthier food systems,' Heala said. Speakers include Patrick Ngassa Piotie (Diabetes Alliance SA – UP) and John Nkuna (sharing his personal journey with diabetes). Register for this discussion here. On Tuesday, 10 June, at 12pm, the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) will host a webinar on access to justice for people living with HIV and TB. 'Reaching the Sustainable Development Goal of ending the HIV and tuberculosis epidemics by 2030 requires countries to address human rights and gender issues that hinder service access. An essential element is ensuring access to legal aid and redress for rights violations,' Sanac said. Using Ghana and South Africa as case studies, the webinar will unpack what needs to be done to break down barriers to access to services and facilitate justice. Register to join the webinar here. Also happening on Tuesday at 3.30pm is the third bi-monthly Global Health Solidarity webinar. This instalment of the webinar will explore how solidarity has taken shape during key global and continental health crises, from resisting Aids denialism in the early 2000s in South Africa, to challenging vaccine apartheid during the Covid-19 pandemic, and confronting the impact of recent US funding cuts to African health programmes. On Thursday, 12 June at 3pm, the Health Justice Initiative will host a webinar on pharmaceutical transparency. During this webinar, experts from South Africa, Colombia and Spain will share real-world experiences on how civil society is making an impact in ensuring pharmaceutical transparency. Speakers: Adrián Alonso Ruiz (Research and Advocacy Manager, Salud por Derecho) Fatima Hassan (Founder and Director, Health Justice Initiative) Claudia Vaca González (Deputy Ombudsperson for the Right to Health and Social Security, Colombia) Also on Thursday, at 10am, the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (Plaas) will hold a discussion on decolonising conservation, rights, livelihoods and access. 'With the increasing acknowledgement of the legacy of colonialism on conservation, including related land dispossession, race-based exclusionary practices of accessing natural resources, to mention a few, calls for decolonising conservation have become common. Indeed, there are numerous efforts (at least on paper) that aim to redress the imbalances of the past. These efforts focus on strengthening rights of local/indigenous people in land and natural resources, as well as to enhance their livelihoods,' the poster reads. The webinar will explore what efforts to decolonise biodiversity look like, including why the challenges continue. Register here. Also on Thursday, at 5.30pm, will host a discussion in the build-up to Youth Day, which will take place on June 16. During Youth in Crisis: Lessons from '76, speakers will discuss: Education crisis and the future of the next generation. Youth unemployment and the ticking time bomb. Lessons of June '76 for today's youth. The role of youth in resisting neoliberalism. here. DM


The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
South Africa's health advocacy groups: ‘Health failing to shield kids from HIV'
'This is unacceptable in a country with one of the largest HIV treatment programmes in the world,"- Treatment Action Campaign's Xabisa Qwabe South Africa's health advocacy groups have accused the department of health of failing to protect children. Picture: Westend61/Getty Images South Africa's health advocacy groups have accused the department of health of failing to protect children from contracting HIV from their mothers. According to statistics recently released by Thembisa Project, the leading mathematical model of HIV in South Africa showed that of approximately 7 200 babies who contracted HIV between 2023 and last year, only 2 500 contracted the virus before or during birth, while the rest were infected during breast-feeding. ALSO READ: Health minister defends nearly R10 million legal spend on NHI court battles Every child deserves access The study further revealed that 157 000 children were living with HIV, while one out of three were not on treatment. Treatment Action Campaign spokesperson Xabisa Qwabe said: 'This is unacceptable in a country with one of the largest HIV treatment programmes in the world.' 'Every child deserves access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy. We cannot accept a situation where children are left behind due to systemic failures or social barriers.' Qwabe said despite significant gains in the fight against HIV, ongoing mother-to-child transmission reflected critical breakdowns in the health care system. 'These include late or no antenatal care, failure to test and treat pregnant women in time, treatment interruptions and social stigma,' she said. 'When a person living with HIV adheres to treatment and achieves an undetectable viral load, the virus cannot be transmitted to others, including from mother to child. This is why adherence to antiretroviral therapy during and after pregnancy is essential.' Pregnant women needed to be taught about the importance of being on treatment consistently. She said while the department of health had important intervention programmes, they were not being delivered effectively in all areas. NOW READ: Men's health: Don't forget to check in your pants

IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Phoenix's healthcare crisis: a community's plea for change
IN THE heart of Phoenix, Durban, a crisis is unfolding that demands immediate attention. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the Phoenix Community Health Care Centre, once pillars of hope for the people of this community, have descended into a state of neglect so severe that it now threatens the dignity, health, and lives of those they are meant to serve. For thousands of residents, many of them elderly, frail, and economically vulnerable, these public healthcare facilities represent their only access to medical care. And yet, what awaits them behind these hospital doors is not healing, but hardship. It is no secret that the physical state of both the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the Phoenix Community Health Care Centre is deplorable. Walls are peeling, sanitation is questionable, and essential medical equipment is either outdated or completely absent. Many wards lack basic amenities, and waiting areas overflow with frustrated, tired patients forced to sit for hours - sometimes even an entire day - just to be seen by a healthcare provider. These scenes are not isolated incidents, they are the everyday norm in Phoenix. The tragedy lies in the fact that these facilities were built to uplift the community, not to compound its suffering. The current state of disrepair reflects more than just budgetary constraints - it is a glaring indictment of mismanagement, neglect, and a systemic failure to prioritise public health. One of the most distressing realities facing patients is the chronic shortage of medical supplies and life-saving medications. From insulin and hypertension drugs to basic antibiotics and sterile bandages, stockouts are frequent and prolonged. For individuals suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic conditions, the consequences of such shortages can be deadly. Patients are often told to return in a week - or even a month - when the next batch of medication might arrive. This is not only unacceptable but unethical. The shortage of qualified medical personnel is another ticking time bomb. Doctors, nurses, and administrative staff are spread dangerously thin, leading to unmanageable workloads and exhaustion. The result? Appalling delays in patient care, rushed consultations, and a severe decline in the quality of service. Some patients report waiting for over six hours before even being triaged, only to be told to return another day. In the worst cases, patients are turned away altogether. The most heart-breaking aspect of this crisis is the treatment of the elderly and unemployed. Many are forced to make multiple costly trips to the health facilities, only to be dismissed without being seen by a doctor. For pensioners living on meagre state grants, and for those unemployed due to circumstances beyond their control, this adds an unnecessary layer of suffering to an already dire situation. The bed shortage at both facilities adds another dimension to this tragedy. Emergency cases are often left unattended on gurneys in hallways or even in waiting rooms. Women in labour, patients with broken bones, or individuals in need of urgent surgical attention are all crammed into overcrowded wards or makeshift recovery areas. In such conditions, patient dignity is routinely compromised. To compound the situation, there are growing concerns about the lack of empathy and compassion among some healthcare workers. While it is important to acknowledge the incredible strain placed on staff, it does not excuse the dismissive or even hostile attitudes patients often encounter. For people who are already vulnerable, being treated with indifference only adds psychological pain to physical ailments. A call for radical reform: It is evident that a mere increase in funding or supplies will not suffice. What the Phoenix's healthcare system needs is a complete and unapologetic overhaul - starting with its management. The leadership at both the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the Phoenix Community Health Care Centre must be held accountable. This is not the time for political appointments or bureaucratic tokenism. We urgently need a management board that is rooted in the community it serves - composed of local residents with a genuine understanding of the social, economic, and cultural context of Phoenix. These board members must have credible backgrounds in community healthcare, leadership, and organisational management. Additionally, skills in fundraising, marketing, communication, and community development should be prioritized. This type of leadership can help bridge the gap between state resources and community needs, while restoring trust and transparency in the system. The way forward: Public healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege for the few. The situation in Phoenix is not just a local issue - it is a reflection of a broader national crisis that must be addressed with urgency and sincerity. Civil society, local businesses, religious institutions, and NGOs must come together to pressure government stakeholders into taking action. It is only through a united front that we can begin to restore dignity and health to the people of Phoenix. Moreover, health oversight mechanisms must be implemented to monitor progress, with public reporting channels to ensure accountability. Technology can also play a vital role in improving administration, tracking supplies, and ensuring better patient flow. However, none of this will work without dedicated and compassionate leadership. The suffering of Phoenix residents cannot be tolerated as an unfortunate norm any longer. The dilapidated state of these two facilities is a stain on our collective conscience. It is time for the community to demand better - not in whispers, but in a unified voice that echoes across municipal, provincial, and national platforms. The health of a nation begins in its most vulnerable communities. Phoenix is calling.