KZN govt plans to get HIV defaulters back on treatment by end of 2025

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial government is due to begin efforts to get thousands of HIV patients back on treatment by end of December 2025.

Since crucial HIV/AIDS funding was pulled from the continent, KZN has been battling, resulting in over 200,000 HIV patients defaulting. 

On Wednesday, the provincial aids council met in Mayville, Durban, to deliberate on a plan.

Addressing the council, KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said: “This is not just a number it is the life and death imperative. Our immediate and non-negotiable target is to trace and return 117,616 by year.”

The initiative is part of the national Close the Gap campaign that is aimed at accelerating South Africa's response to the HIV epidemic.

Ntuli said it’s time for action despite the glaring financial constraints.

“Therefore, our call to the council is that let us mark a decisive shift from analysis to action.”