HIV project in Eshowe, South Africa reaches 90-90-90 target one year ahead of 2020 deadline
Jun 12, 2019
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) released findings from a follow-up survey of its community-based HIV/TB project in Eshowe, KwaZulu Natal. It shows that the project has achieved the UNAIDS targets of 90-90-901 one year ahead of the 2020 deadline, with results of 90-94-95: 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 94% of those were on antiretroviral treatment and 95% of those had a suppressed viral load. The results support MSF’s view that interventions at community level can successfully reach and directly support more people living with HIV who do not access conventional health services, which is key to getting ahead of the HIV epidemic.
The 90-90-90 target is an important indicator of the success of a country’s HIV response, with South Africa’s national results estimated at 85-71-86 (HSRC, 2018).
“We’ve shown that it’s possible to reach 90-90-90 in an area with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the country, where one in four people is living with HIV. These results are testament to the full engagement of the entire community. Everyone - from local civil society and patient groups, health staff and traditional health practitioners, traditional leaders and their members – was deeply involved in designing and helping this project to deliver from the beginning, said Dr Liesbet Ohler, Project Medical Referent, Eshowe. “Importantly, we have ensured 94% of people who tested HIV positive started treatment, including people who are much less likely to test for HIV and link to care, such as men.”
The MSF Epicentre population-based survey, which included 3,286 people aged 15 to 59 years, is a follow up to a 2013 survey done by MSF and Epicentre in the same area which was performed to inform priority activities. The 2018 survey found a significant increase in overall HIV status awareness (increased by 14%) and in starting people on treatment (increased by 24%) between 2013 and 2018. Among men, there were striking increases in knowledge of HIV status (first 90), from 68% to 83% and on treatment (second 90), from 68% to 87%.
Preliminary HIV incidence results (which means the number of new HIV infections) show a trend to decrease, from 1.2% in 2013 to 0.2% in 2018. This is supported by survey findings which show that among the people surveyed, the proportion of those living with HIV who were virally suppressed2 increased from 56% (2013) to 84% (2018), signifying a dramatic reduction in the number of people with the potential to transmit HIV3.
However, MSF cautions against interpreting the survey results as an outright declaration of victory, with significant challenges remaining among specific age groups. “While incidence decreased among women aged 15-29 years from 2.9% to 1.2%, this figure remains high and points to the continued risk faced by adolescent girls and young women, said Dr Laura Trivino, MSF’s Medical Coordinator for South Africa.
The ‘Bending the Curves’ project, which started in 2011 before the 90-90-90 targets were set by UNAIDS in 2013, aimed to bend the curves of new HIV infections, and HIV-related illness and death. Numerous activities were launched in partnership with communities and the KwaZulu Natal Department of Health to prevent HIV infection, increase HIV testing, link people quickly to care, and support their adherence, retention and suppression on treatment. Today the project covers ten clinics and two hospitals.
“How did Eshowe get to 90-94-95? I would say it’s the power of partnership. We had the total commitment of the traditional leadership, and close collaboration with the departments of Health and Education at each stage, says Musa Ndlovu, MSF’s Deputy Field Coordinator in Eshowe. “In the early days of this project, it was almost impossible for people to even imagine talking about HIV. Today people even stop our MSF vehicles and ask for an HIV test. We didn’t do it for the community, we did it with them.”
Note to Editors:
MSF presented the main findings of the 2018 MSF Epicentre survey for the first time at SAAIDS, Durban during an oral presentation Wednesday 12 June. The related abstract is available here.
Footnote:
1 ’90-90-90’ treatment goals were proposed by UNAIDS in 2013. Achieving the goals by 2020 means at that time, 90 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, that 90 per cent of people living with HIV initiate and remain on ARV treatment, and that 90 per cent of people on ARV treatment reach and maintain an undetectable viral load.
2 Viral suppression means that the antiretroviral treatment is successfully suppressing the amount of HIV virus in a person’s blood, ensuring overall health and greatly reducing the chances of HIV transmission. It was defined as viral load <1,000 copies/ml.
3 The landmark HPTN 052 (2011) study confirmed that people living with HIV who were taking treatment successfully and had viral suppression have a 96% reduced chance of transmitting HIV.
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