HIV patient testing falls in South Africa after US aid cuts, data shows

THE level of testing and monitoring of HIV patients across South Africa has dropped since the US cut aid that funded health workers and clinics, with pregnant women, infants and youth the most affected, previously unpublished government data shows.

- REUTERS AND SIYABONGA SITHOLE

South Africa has the world's highest burden of HIV, with about 8 million people — one in five adults — living with the virus. The US was funding 17% of the country’s HIV budget until President Donald Trump slashed aid early this year.

Data from the National Health Laboratory Service showed that viral load testing fell by up to 21% among key groups in the last two months, which four HIV experts said appeared to be due to the loss of US funding.

Viral load testing measures how much virus is in the blood of people living with HIV who are on anti-retroviral treatment. It is normally done at least once a year.

It checks whether the treatment is working and whether the virus is sufficiently suppressed to prevent it from spreading to others.

With less testing, fewer people who may transmit the virus will be identified. Missing a test can also indicate that a patient has dropped out of the system and may be missing treatment.

It is especially important for pregnant women who may be at risk of transmitting HIV through childbirth and for infants who need to be diagnosed and treated early to survive.