National Strategic Plan
Another National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs launched yet no tangible results yielded previously
Implementation of the 4th National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB, and STIs thwarted as Government falters to make progress. UniQ Magazine had a chat with a few other health institutions that are key stakeholders of the Health Department in curbing viral epidemics. The current status quo leaves a lot to be desired.
The new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB, and STIs for 2023-2028 was launched in March 2023 during the World TB Day Commemoration.
In an issued statement by National Government, a multi-sectoral approach and well-coordinated mechanisms with clear, measurable, and reasonable targets will help to influence the desired outcomes of the Plan. The inclusion of mental health services and social support based on the strong association between HIV, TB, STIs with other social challenges such as gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), human rights violations and inequalities is perceived as a game changer. The new NSP also features an expanded scope for the management of STIs, including viral hepatitis and Human Papilloma Virus which are deemed as common coinfections in people living with HIV.
Director for the Durban Gay & Lesbian Centre, Nonhlanhla Mkhize, says the NSP is an important Strategic Guideline on what South Africa at both national and local levels can do to fast track the vision to end HIV infections by 2020, put more people on ARVS towards U=U. Mkhize said even though the implementation is at a slow pace, LGBTI+ communities in South Africa are in a better state.
“The progress made so far in terms of implementing the strategic plan is regrettably slow, it has taken a step-by-step approach while people’s lives are on the line. We are in a better state than most LGBTI communities around the world. I still believe we could have done more for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people. I’m separating the letters of the alphabet because they are independent communities with some shared experience of stigma and unfair discrimination,” says Mkhize.
The Five-Year Plan Objectives and Targets were focusing on five areas: Health, Empowerment, Psychosocial Support, Human Rights and Evaluation. The Durban Lesbian and Gay Centre has been able to implement and meet some of these objectives and targets respectively, in their implementation sites. The Centre has been able to offer HIV Testing Service to LGBTI+, MSM and WSM communities successfully at uThukela, uGu and King Cetshwayo Districts with eThekwini and Mgungundlovu following behind.
The Centre noted that, some of the factors that stalls the work progress includes corruption in the form of bribes as funds awarded are affected and the focus is given more to men who have sex men (MSM) and Transwomen (TG). More funds are needed for the provision of services to LGBTI+ communities in other District Municipalities that are dominated by rural areas such as Harry Gwala, Ilembe, Mkhanyakude, Mzinyathi, Majuba and Zululand.
Mkhize said the empowerment of LGBTI populations through peer-led programmes that will strengthen community networks is underway. Through the Centre, they are implementing this in eThekwini, uGu, uThukela and Zululand in partnership with DSD and Lifeline.
According to Mkhize, the Dept of Social Development (DSD), SADAG play a huge role in psychosocial support but more needs to be done including providing capacity.
Human Rights
The plan had an objective to develop and implement effective mechanisms to deal with human rights abuses and violence from the public, police and health care providers; sensitisation of police and prosecuting authorities; and legal literacy and paralegal support to reduce violence against LGBTI.
Responding to this, Mkhize said unfortunately, there were no specific ‘effective mechanisms on human rights to reduce violence against LGBTI’ developed, but South Africa developed, launched and implements a 1) National Intervention Strategy (www.dojcd.gov.za) to curb and prosecute crimes against LGBTI; and 2) National Human Rights and Gender Plan (www.sanac.org.za) aimed at scaling up programs to reduce human right and related barriers to HIV, TB and STI. LGBTI issues are responded to in here.
For the continuation of the implementation of the LGBTI HIV Plan that has reached its expiry date, SANAC has made a ‘call to tender’ to identify a service provider who will work with SANAC to meet the outstanding targets.
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