Close the Gap: We want you to come back to care

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, together with the National Department of Health and community partners, today called on all people in the province who have missed appointments or stopped HIV or TB treatment to reconnect with care, without judgment, at a Close the Gap Community Outreach event hosted in Khayelitsha.

Close the Gap is a national initiative launched by the National Department of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNAIDS, and other stakeholders, aiming to re-engage 1.1 million people living with HIV who are aware of their status but are not yet on treatment.

The campaign seeks to ensure that people start, stay on, and achieve viral suppression through life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), thereby advancing towards the UNAIDS 95–95–95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% of those diagnosed on ART, and 95% of those on ART achieving viral suppression.

Provincial patient-level data indicates that over 111,000 people living with HIV in the Western Cape have not accessed services in the past 24 months. Our health teams are using local data to focus on the facilities and communities where the need is greatest. In the Western Cape, the provincial department has integrated the national END TB campaign with the Close Gap campaign. The End TB Campaign focuses on scaling up TB testing and strengthening the cascade of care. By testing more people, we can identify cases early, link them to treatment, and reduce TB incidence and mortality - moving us closer to our End TB targets.

Live well: You can live a healthy live while on ARVs and TB treatment

Fanelwa Gwashu, a community activist for people living with HIV, joined the community outreach and shared her story. She was also previously diagnosed with TB and has since been cured. “I have been accessing care for HIV since 2004 and support this Close the Gap campaign. My message to my peers is, if you are HIV positive or have TB, come back to care and come back and get your treatment. This can help you live long. We can do this for our children and our people."

Fanelwa shared why she takes her ARV medication every day. “I thought about my mother, and I wanted her to still have me here. I thought about my children, and I wanted to see them graduate. I saw my daughter graduate with her masters. I got to see that. I am here and I am healthy because I am taking my medication. You can live a long and healthy life while using ARVs.”

Dr Saadiq Kariem, Chief Operating Officer for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, echoed Fanelwa’s call to the community, while delivering the keynote address at the event: “We are appealing to all people through our community structures and our facilities to please come back to care so that we continue your treatment journey. This will not only protect your own life and help you to live a healthy life, it will also protect your loved ones, partners, family and friends.”

Community activist, Mthuru Dutyulwa, made a special appeal to all men. “I call on men to get tested for HIV and TB. Testing services are free in our communities. If you don’t know your status, I encourage you to get tested to protect yourself and your families. If you have been tested and need treatment, I urge you to please continue your treatment. Help is available to you.”

Khayelitsha and Eastern Health District Director, Mr James Kruger, added: “Today we reaffirm our commitment to you and all people in our district, from Eerste River, to Khayelitsha and beyond, no one should be left behind in our efforts to provide HIV and TB healthcare. Close the Gap is our call to action to reach those who have fallen out of care, to support them, and to protect everyone, including those who are not living with HIV or TB, so that our communities stay healthy and safe.”

At the launch, the department offered wellness screening services to community members, including:

• HIV self-screening, testing and counselling.
• STI screening and counselling.
• TB screening, testing and counselling.
• General wellness checks.
• Pap smears.
• Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision referral information.
• Condom distribution and demonstrations.
• Health education, including mental wellness awareness.
• Support to start PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), medication which people at risk of HIV can take to help prevent getting HIV from sex or drug use via injections.

Beyond the campaign, healthcare teams across the province have geared up to welcome patients, young and old, back to care through free testing and screening at local clinics, health hubs and other outreaches. We encourage you to be on the lookout for events in your community to access free services for your health. 

How to protect your health:

• If you have a persistent cough, night sweats, weight loss, or fatigue, visit your nearest clinic or mobile site for a free TB test.
• Open windows in homes, schools, workplaces and public transport to allow fresh air.
• Wear a mask if you’re coughing or in crowded spaces.
• Complete TB treatment even when symptoms improve, stopping early can lead to drug resistance.
•  U=U: If someone living with HIV is on sustained treatment and has an undetectable viral load, they cannot sexually transmit HIV.
• Use condoms, freely available at clinics, to prevent HIV, STIs, and pregnancy.
• Ask your clinic about PrEP if you are HIV-negative and at risk.
•  Limit sexual partners and test regularly for HIV if at higher risk.

Whether it’s your first visit or you’re returning to care, the Department welcomes you. No judgment. Just care.

This provincial campaign is part of the National Department of Health’s Close the Gap initiative, delivered in partnership with WHO, UNAIDS, and local organisations.