Gauteng province improves HIV and TB treatment
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In Gauteng, South Africa, the Department of Health reported better retention rates for people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis during the 2025-26 financial year.
The province treated 1,295,104 people with HIV and 27,471 people with TB, increases from the 1,261,198 and 24,613 treated the previous year. Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said tracing clients who missed appointments and using WhatsApp reminders for TB patients contributed to the improvements.
The department focused on finding and supporting patients who did not attend scheduled appointments, and also referred those who tested positive for HIV to local healthcare outreach teams. For tuberculosis treatment, the department sent WhatsApp messages to remind patients to collect results and begin treatment promptly if positive. While treatment outcomes improved, with 12-month ART retention for children rising to 71.7% and viral suppression among adults reaching 81.5%, the province still did not meet its overall HIV retention goals.
To address ongoing challenges like patients lost to follow-up and incorrect contact information, the Department of Health implemented a new standard operating procedure for transferring patients between facilities. The province also tested 4,935,976 people for HIV, surpassing its annual target, and initiated 24,390 people on Lenacapavir, a drug that protects against HIV for six months. Targeted HIV testing also contributed to a modest reduction in new infections among young people.
