The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health has launched a large-scale campaign to reconnect more than 117,000 individuals who have stopped their HIV treatment, amid growing concerns over treatment interruption and the potential for drug resistance.
Speaking at the campaign’s launch, MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane said that the province is prioritizing efforts to bring patients back into care, especially those who have missed appointments or stopped taking their antiretroviral therapy (ART). The campaign is part of a broader strategy to strengthen HIV response and reduce transmission rates in one of South Africa’s hardest-hit provinces.
Treatment interruption doesn’t just affect individuals it affects entire communities, Simelane emphasized. We are using clinics, community health workers, and mobile services to trace patients and support them in returning to care.
KwaZulu-Natal has long been at the epicenter of South Africa’s HIV epidemic, with high infection rates and one of the largest ART programs in the country. However, health officials have observed worrying levels of treatment dropout, partly due to stigma, migration, and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health workers across the province are now going door-to-door and using digital tracking tools to find those who have fallen out of the system. They are also offering counseling and treatment support to address the reasons many patients give for stopping their medication, including fear of disclosure, side effects, and lack of transport.
The department is partnering with NGOs, local clinics, and community leaders to ensure the campaign reaches both urban and rural areas. Special focus is being placed on men and young people, who are statistically less likely to stay in long-term treatment programs.
Experts warn that interrupting HIV treatment can lead to higher viral loads, increased risk of transmission, and drug-resistant HIV strains. Reconnecting people to treatment is therefore seen as essential to maintaining the gains made in recent years.
Dr. Thulani Dlamini, an infectious disease specialist in Durban, welcomed the initiative, saying, We have the tools to control HIV, but we need people to stay on treatment. Every person who comes back is a win for public health.
The KZN Department of Health aims to reach its reconnection target within a year and will be tracking progress through regular data reviews and community feedback.
