Testing for HIV at public health facilities declined 57% during the first month of lockdown instituted because of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, according to data from the national health department.
According to a Mail & Guardian report, about 1.6m HIV tests were conducted in March. In April that number dipped to just fewer than 690 000 tests, just after the lockdown was instituted at the end of the previous month.
Additionally, more than twice as many people tested for HIV in April last year compared to this year, showing one of the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on access to healthcare services.
HIV testing services in public clinics and hospitals were not shut down during lockdown, because these facilities were considered essential services. However, the restrictions of movement resulted in a decrease in HIV testing, because community testing stopped.
“The department introduced innovative testing methods, such as HIV self-testing, in collaboration with partners. The HIV self-test kits were distributed online and at community pharmacies during the lockdown,” said national health department spokesperson Popo Maja.
The report says disruptions to HIV treatment and services could have far-reaching effects. Early modelling convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN AIDS estimated that a six-month disruption of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment could lead to more than half a million additional deaths caused by Aids-related illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa.
The report says this has considerable implications for South Africa’s public health system because about 72% of South Africans say a public clinic, hospital or other public institutions are the first places they go to for health service, according to Statistics South Africa.
Stop Stockouts Project (SSP) project manager Ruth Dube said: “With ARV treatment interruption, the risk is developing drug resistance and losing control of viral suppression. With contraception, the risk is an unplanned pregnancy; with chronic diseases such as mental health conditions, treatment interruption could have far-reaching impacts on individuals and communities.”
[link url="https://mg.co.za/coronavirus-essentials/2020-09-04-covid-19-sets-hiv-treatment-and-testing-back/"]Full Mail & Guardian report[/link]