THE time to search for people who have thrown away AIDS drugs in KwaZulu-Natal has been extended as it turns out that there are more than 100 000 people who do not collect the drugs in the province.
The search for those who dumped the drugs will continue until December.
This was announced by the Minister of Health, Ms. Nomagugu Simelane, when she presented the department’s budget for this year in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislative Assembly, on Friday.
Ms Simelane said that although they were able to find a large number of people during the campaign, there are still too many people who do not receive the medication.
Ms Simelane said that they managed to find more than 210 000 people who had discarded the drugs, they had set to find more than 116 000.
“There are many people who do not take their medications. The number of people who take their medications has increased by 15,000, which means that there are about 101,000 people who do not take their medications. Because of this, the Ministry of Health has extended the search period for those who do not take their medications until December.”
Ms Simelane said it was heartening to see the people of KwaZulu-Natal showing interest in the injection that prevents AIDS infection, lenacapavir.
“When you arrived here in June, people seemed to enjoy it. We received 12,000 injections, we have injected 6,000 people. You only inject twice a year. This is an easy way to protect yourself, especially for young people who are reluctant to use contraceptive pills.”
Ms Simelane said the department will continue with other programs to prevent virus infection. These programs include circumcision, PrEP pills, and HIV testing.
Ms Simelane said they wish the number of circumcised people in KwaZulu-Natal to reach 2 million.
“Since the start of the circumcision program, 1.8 million people have been circumcised. The people are very supportive of this program. Silo Mdlokombane supported this program when it started, Silo Ndulalamithi also continues to support the program. We urge traditional leaders and churches to support this program, not to allow themselves to be misled.”
The department’s budget for this financial year is R60.2 billion.
Ms Simelane said that they will renew the cooperation program with traditional healers.
“I want to say that traditional healers are very helpful. Many people in KwaZulu-Natal start with traditional healers before they come to our institutions. That is why we feel it is important to have a relationship with them so that we can agree on how to help people.”
Ms Simelane encouraged people to exercise.
He said that exercise makes people less susceptible to diseases.
He said this year they will hire 50 doctors, as well as nurses and other staff.