Yearly Archives: 2022

Falling through the cracks: How SA’s healthcare system is failing the LGBTQI community

About the RETAIN study: Improving RETention and viral load outcomes for people taking Antiretroviral therapy through early IdentificatioN of missed doses

Too few South Africans living with HIV achieve viral suppression. Although advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have reduced illness and death for people with HIV (PWH), ongoing evidence show gaps in the HIV continuum, including poor tablet taking / adherence and low retention in care, particularly in the first 4 months after ART is started.…

Africa REACH welcomes news that Zimbabwe becomes the first African country to approve injectable PrEP

*This article is based off a press release distributed by DTHF partner, Africa REACH.   The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe recently approved the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, making Zimbabwe the first African country to authorize the once-every-two-months injectable PrEP drug. Zimbabwe has a PrEP program…

The SOGI Universe: Which planet do you come from?

People whose sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) do not conform to the majority may experience hostility and exclusion in everyday life. Sexual orientation and gender identity are two separate but distinct part of people’s overall identity. Learning about these concepts for the first time can be confusing and overwhelming. Enter the SOGI Universe! The…

PURPOSE 2 – Join this PrEP Trial

Are you a man or a transgender person who has sex with men? We want to talk to you!   Globally HIV transmission is still a serious health issue that needs a lot of attention from governments, health care providers, and our communities. There are general services, educational campaigns and programmes for all members of…

Safe Spaces Network: How the DTHF Engages with the LGBTQI+ community

  Men who have sex with men (MSM) and Transgender Men and Women have been historically marginalised within Southern African communities and face stigma and discrimination regardless of their HIV status. HIV prevalence among MSM in South Africa is high, sitting at 26.8% in 2017. Many of the studies and trials we undertake at DTHF…

FASTPrEP Project Kicks Off in Cape Town

Adolescent girls and young women remain at disproportionately high risk of HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective biomedical tool to prevent HIV infection but uptake and continued use by key risk groups such as adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and men who have sex with men (MSM), has so…

ADVANCES IN ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY ADHERENCE MONITORING

South Africa has fallen short of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals for 2020, particularly in the second two measures: Percentage of people living with HIV on treatment (70%) and percentage of people living with HIV who are virally suppressed (64%) [UNAIDS 2020}. Having a raised viral load has risks including poor health outcomes for the individual…