Latest news with #ARV
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Slow-motion denialism — our leaders are allowing the HIV response to collapse
South Africa is staging a sequel to Mbeki-era denialism, only this time the science, solutions and costs are clearer. Tragically, we have politicians showing the same disregard for despairing public health experts sounding the alarm and civil society's calls for engagement. Treasury's token contribution, President Cyril Ramaphosa's and the Government of National Unity's (GNU) silence, Deputy President Paul Mashatile's empty promises and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi's fabricated success, mean the current child and adult deaths and unnecessary infections are mounting. Exactly six months after the abrupt withdrawal of billions of rands in support to South Africa from the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), there is still no plan. In May, in response to concerns about HIV service weaknesses, Motsoaledi claimed 520,000 people were initiated on HIV treatment between February and April, a number already almost halfway towards his 'Close the Gap' campaign target. This remarkable success claimed by the minister occurred during a collapse in funding, staffing and testing, and was achieved simply with 'roadshows' and unnamed community programmes. This would represent one of the most remarkable HIV global service delivery achievements yet, given three months of massive funding withdrawal and service collapse. Yet, in the past few weeks: National Health Laboratory Services data shows CD4 test volumes are down sharply from 2024. If more people were entering care, these numbers would rise. This is the clearest indicator we have that far fewer people are entering care. The minister's claim that more than 500,000 people were added to the number on HIV treatment is thus implausible; New data from Johannesburg show HIV diagnoses and people starting treatment are down nearly one-third since Pepfar's withdrawal. In Gauteng, the province with the highest HIV burden, the minister's 520,000 number should be immediately reflected in numbers like these. Yet we are seeing the numbers go down rather than up; Community monitors from Ritshidze – an organisation that monitors the ARV programme – report steep drops in testing, medicine pickups and staff capacity in government facilities offering HIV services. 'Do more with less' is not a realistic strategy to address this; Early infant diagnosis rates have somewhat recovered, too late for many. Infants with HIV have extremely high mortality. These are the bodies behind the pause the minister refuses to call a collapse; A report by Avac, an HIV advocacy organisation, showed most key population programmes have been terminated. 'Key populations' refers to groups at particularly high risk of HIV such as sex workers and men who have sex with men. The government claimed that the patient files from the clinics that provided services to key populations have been transferred to other clinics. But staff at some of the defunded organisations providing these services have told me, despairingly, that key population clinic files now sit, unopened, in overwhelmed clinics; The Clinical HIV Research Unit in Johannesburg shut its cervical cancer screening and prevention clinic in June; and The Global Fund, our significant remaining donor, cut funding to South Africa's current grants by 16%, reducing it by R1.4-billion. The Treasury 'emergency' funding announced last week amounts to roughly half of what the Global Fund cut, and only 6% of the Pepfar cut. Repeated offers of help and pleas for meetings and consultations from local experts and civil society have been ignored by the country's leaders. This includes a letter signed by numerous organisations and individuals from across the country's most respected institutions, setting 7 July as a deadline for a response. Constant promises that the 'plans' for mitigating the HIV programme will be released have not materialised. Reassurances that provinces are getting support is not being experienced by any of the provincial colleagues I speak to. Mashatile has doubled down on the 520,000 number, telling Parliament that the withdrawal of Pepfar funding 'has spurred on' the government to become more 'self-reliant', using BRICS, Lotto and domestic funding to plug the gap, with no details as to how this will happen. He claimed no patient will suffer, despite local studies warning of massive waves of new deaths and infections, multiple anecdotes in the press to the contrary, and submissions by public figures to the Portfolio Committee on Health on service interruptions. Both Mashatile and Motsoaledi have repeatedly lamented, correctly, the severe reliance of our health system on external donors, but have not acknowledged that they have been fully responsible for the health system for almost all of Pepfar's existence. Concerned academics directly responsible for shaping the Department of Health's HIV response, who have called for the minister to explain his 520,000 figure, have not been answered. This crisis is fixable. It requires immediate reinvestment in defunded organisations, the rehiring of experienced managers and an honest medium-term plan for service integration within our health system. None of this is happening. There is no urgency, no leadership and no public plan. Motsoaledi says there is 'no collapse' but patients are dying without diagnosis, and others are acquiring HIV without prevention. Call it what you want. The system is failing. The minister's claims of 'no collapse' ring hollow for the people left stranded with no services, waiting to die for want of a diagnosis and treatment, or unnecessarily contracting HIV for lack of effective prevention. Recent local modelling has shown the Pepfar collapse may result in tens of thousands of preventable deaths, if services are not replaced. The Ramaphosa-Motsoaledi-GNU era risks a ruined legacy, not for failing to stop this crisis, but for pretending it wasn't happening. DM Professor Francois Venter is a clinician researcher at Wits University. He led a large Pepfar programme until 2012 and has had a support role since then. He and his unit do not receive Pepfar, CDC or USAID funding.
The South African
4 days ago
- Health
- The South African
'No health risk': Government assures after ARVs were found in water sources
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that the presence of anti-retroviral (ARV) residues in drinking water poses no health risk and cannot result in HIV transmission. This comes as a study conducted by the North West University (NWU) found measurable levels of ARV residues in some of the country's water sources. The report by the NWU's Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, titled 'Quantification, Fate, and Hazard Assessment of HIV-ARVs in Water Resources', revealed that ARVs are entering the water supply primarily through municipal wastewater treatment systems. As per the study, the most detected ARVs included lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms. The study found that concentrations of ARVs in some water sources exceeded acceptable thresholds, posing potential long-term health risks to humans, and the team emphasised that the current wastewater treatment processes are inadequate for removing these bioactive compounds, highlighting the need for technological advancements. Higher concentrations of traces of ARVs were found downstream of wastewater treatment plants. This means that the municipal wastewater treatment works are not removing them, because most existing wastewater treatment works have not been designed to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), the Department of Water and Sanitation, together with the Water Research Commission, said in a joint statement. Low concentrations of ARVs were found in some of the drinking water samples. There is a possibility that high concentrations of ARVs in sewage or municipal wastewater might reduce the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment works in removing bacteria from the wastewater. Further research is required in this regard. Following concerns, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Water Research Commission have clarified that the presence of ARV residues in drinking water is harmless, 'although prolonged exposure to the broader population may lead to antimicrobial resistance, a subject of ongoing research. Pharmaceuticals such as ARVs are drugs used to treat diseases – they do not cause diseases. Therefore, the presence of traces of ARVs in the water will not result in people contracting HIV.' 'At present, there is limited knowledge of environmental toxicity, potential adverse effects on ecosystems, and viral resistance of these compounds. The study did not find any ARVs in fish.' According to DWS, the issue of contaminants of emerging concern in water not only affects South Africa but is a growing global problem and area of attention around the world. Globally, the level of CEC compounds in water is generally not yet regulated. This is partly due to their presence often being below water quality detection limits. However, due to their continuous production, lack of appropriate disposal, constant input into the environment and presence in water resources, albeit in small concentrations, there is now increasing global research into the issue. 'Traces of pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and other such CECs that have been found in water resources in South Africa are tiny quantities, measured in nanograms (one billionth of a gram). Conventional water and wastewater treatment technologies are designed to remove much larger contaminants, such as particles of faeces and bacteria,' the department added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Department of Water and Sanitation reassures ARV traces in water pose no health threat
Despite trace levels of ARVs detected in some sources, the Department of Water and Sanitation says South Africa's drinking water remains safe and compliant with health standards. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that there is no health risk following the detection of trace amounts of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in some of South Africa's rivers and drinking water sources. The findings stem from a Water Research Commission (WRC) study conducted by North West University to investigate contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). 'The presence of ARV residues in drinking water is harmless,' DWS said, adding that the levels found were extremely low, measured in nanograms, or one-billionth of a gram per litre. 'Pharmaceuticals such as ARVs are drugs used to treat diseases; they do not cause diseases. Therefore, the presence of traces of ARVs in the water will not result in people contracting HIV.' According to the report, traces of ARVs were detected in river systems and in a few treated water samples, with higher concentrations found downstream of municipal wastewater treatment plants.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Study finds traces of ARVs in water
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has confirmed it will engage North West University (NWU) on a groundbreaking study that detected traces of anti-retroviral (ARV) medication in several local water sources. The report, titled 'Quantification, fate and hazard assessment of HIV-ARVs in water resources', was submitted to the Water Research Commission and compiled by NWU's Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research. ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni ensures safe water amid Rand Water cuts Key concerns raised: • High levels of HIV drugs, especially lopinavir and efavirenz, were found downstream of wastewater treatment plants; • These concentrations exceed global safety norms; • The drugs likely originate from SA's large-scale HIV treatment programme, the world's largest. The study attributes the contamination to municipal wastewater systems, which were not designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds like ARVs. This failure results in untreated traces entering rivers and water bodies. The environmental risks highlighted the presence of ARVs in natural water sources, which pose hidden health and ecological risks, particularly to aquatic life and water treatment processes. The findings included: • Developmental damage in freshwater snails exposed to ARVs; • Disruption of bacteriophages, viruses that help regulate bacteria during wastewater treatment; • Increased risk of bacterial blooms, which reduce overall water quality. 'The consumption of any exogenous drug by an organism in sufficient quantity might interfere with metabolic regulation,' the report warns. ALSO READ: Water cuts alert: Ekurhuleni areas to face disruption from July 15 to 18 The DWS reiterated it will engage NWU, the Water Research Commission, and the Department of Health to assess the implications and recommend interventions. Meanwhile, the CoE recently reassured residents that tap water remains safe and compliant with health standards, even as Rand Water prepares to do essential infrastructure repairs until 07:00 on July 18. The key areas affected by temporary supply interruptions include Kempton Park, Germiston, Thembisa, Edenvale and Bedfordview. 'The safety and health of our residents remain our top priority,' the city said in a statement. 'Maintaining our Blue Drop standard – whether through piped supply or tankers – is non-negotiable.' Report concerns to the city's call centre on 0860 543 000. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Zawya
5 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
NWU finds ARVs in South Africa water sources, sparking govt probe
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says it will engage the North West University (NWU) on the study findings of traces of anti-retroviral (ARV) medicines in water resources. The research was conducted by the NWU's Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research. It found that ARVs appear to be entering water resources through municipal wastewater treatment systems, which were usually not designed to remove such chemicals. The report titled Quantification, fate, and hazard assessment of HIV-ARVs in water resources, revealed significant concentrations of ARVs in water sources, particularly downstream of wastewater treatment plants. The drugs most frequently detected were lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms. According to the study, this is attributed to South Africa's large-scale HIV treatment programme, the most extensive of its kind worldwide. The research highlighted alarming effects on aquatic ecosystems and wastewater management systems. Freshwater snails exposed to ARVs exhibited altered embryonic development, while bacteriophages – viruses critical to controlling bacteria in wastewater treatment – were significantly impacted. 'Such disruptions could lead to bacterial bloom and reduced water quality. The consumption of any type of exogenous drug by any organism in sufficient quantities may interfere with the regulation of metabolic systems and bring about adverse effects. The presence of antiretrovirals in water can be considered a hidden or latent risk," the report noted. The report was submitted to the Water Research Commission (WRC). The DWS said it will engage the university on its findings and potential impacts. 'This will be done in conjunction with the Water Research Commission and the Department of Health,' the department said in a statement. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
