By Siyabonga Gema (HST Communications Officer)
Every year in August, South Africa celebrates Women's Month, which culminates with Women's Day being observed on 9 August. This day marks the events of 9 August 1956 when South African women across all racial groups challenged the then segregational Pass Law that was imposed by the Apartheid government. The courage and determination that the group of over 20 000 women demonstrated still resonates with women all over South Africa today.
The dawn of democracy brought many changes in this country, opening doors to new possibilities and prospects, particularly for the previously oppressed. With these changes come new challenges, which again call on our collective efforts to overcome them. The South African health sector has continued to grapple with the scourge of the HIV epidemic. According to the Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour survey (SABSSM VI), HIV prevalence was nearly twice as high among women (20%) compared to men (12%) in 2022. Furthermore, the 2022 survey states that HIV prevalence was the highest among black Africans (20%), followed by Coloureds (5%), and lowest among Whites and Indian/Asian people (1% each).
The continued efforts to curb HIV, propelled by the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, have given rise to many programmes aimed at empowering women and young girls, giving them a voice and helping them take charge of their lives and their health. Gender inequality is still a challenge for women and is a major hurdle in accessing services. The United Nations Women (UN Women) says that gender inequality contributes to the spread of HIV. It can increase infection rates, and reduce the ability of women and girls to cope with the epidemic. Often, they have less information about HIV and fewer resources to take preventive measures. UN Women addresses this by bringing gender equality and human rights perspectives to its work on women and HIV and AIDS through spearheading strategies that make clear links to factors propelling the epidemic, such as gender-based violence, denial of legal rights and women's limited participation in decision making.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), women and girls face unacceptably high levels of violence rooted in gender inequality and are at grave risk of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, and child, early and forced marriage. WHO figures show that about 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Harmful gender norms, such as toxic masculinity, which refers to a range of offensive, damaging attitudes, inclinations, and actions that have their roots in traditional male roles but are carried to an extreme are one of the biggest enablers of gender inequality, especially in traditional and cultural settings. These, and a myriad of other challenges, continue to be prevalent despite many interventions. Women's access to healthcare in the face of HIV and AIDS and other diseases calls on a concerted effort from all role players and sectors of society.
In recognition of this need, the Health Systems Trust's Cervical Cancer Prevention, Access and Control (CCPAC) Project aims to address the challenge of high cervical cancer incidence and mortality, and focuses on education and awareness, improving access to early screening, diagnosis, treatment and palliative services for cervical cancer in the Zululand district in KwaZulu-Natal.
For more information on what we do and the programmes that support women at the HIV interface do consult our website, www.hst.org.za