HIV
HIV stats in South Africa, 28 November, 2006 from National Department of Health

In the past year more than 1,7 million people have used the Government's Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) programme.
Between April 2005 and March 2006, 1 715 588 received pre-HIV testing counselling and 80% (1 374 638) of them tested for HIV, according to the Department of Health. About 35% (479 086) of those who tested were found to be HIV positive.
Government said, the progress in increasing the uptake into VCT is largely attributed to HIV and AIDS awareness campaign which encourages people to know their HIV status. Government's HIV and AIDS communication programme, Khomanani, particularly highlights the need for testing. In its media campaign with a theme: "Taking relationship to a higher level," Khomanani encourages people to test for HIV.
A total of 4 172 VCT service points are operational in both medical and non-medical sites in all nine provinces. VCT is available in more than 90% of clinics. Close to R26 million is allocated annually to all provinces for VCT services based on provincial targets to cover all resources necessary for quality VCT services.
All testing is voluntary and users of the service are requested to give consent for HIV testing after appropriate counselling. VCT is critical in enhancing HIV prevention efforts and improving the effectiveness of care and treatment services.

The Department of Health gives the following breakdown of those tested per province. VCT report: April 2005 to March 2006
Province: Eastern Cape
Total pre-test counselled: 168 237
Tested: 123 768
Testing rate: 74%
Tested positive: 39 113
Positivity rate: 32%

Province: Free State
Total pre-test counselled: 61 262
Tested: 40 283
Testing rate: 66%
Tested positive: 16 632
Positivity rate: 41%

Province: Gauteng
Total pre-test counselled: 213 935
Tested: 183 821
Testing rate: 86%
Testing positive: 77 374
Positivity rate: 42%

Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Total pre-test counselled: 340 542
Tested: 310 215
Testing rate: 91%
Tested positive: 145 442
Positivity rate: 47%

Province: Limpopo
Total pre-test counselled: 174 191
Tested: 113 077
Testing rate: 65%
Tested positive: 34 883
Positivity rate: 31%

Province: Mpumalanga
Total pre-test counselled: 75 168
Tested: 47 909
Testing rate: 64%
Tested positive: 21 144
Positivity rate: 44%

Province: North West
Total pre-test counselled: 481 704
Tested: 372,135
Testing rate: 77%
Tested positive: 110 559
Positivity rate: 30%

Province: Northern Cape
Total pre-test counselled: 42 369
Tested: 36 761
Testing rate: 87%
Tested positive: 6 926
Positivity rate: 19%

Province: Western Cape
Total pre-test counselled: 158 180
Tested: 146 663
Tested rate: 93%
Tested positive: 27 013
Positivity rate: 18%

National
Total pre-test counselled: 1 715 588
Tested: 1 374 638
Testing rate: 80%
Tested positive: 479 086
Positivity rate: 35%

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