The province also reported 27 471 TB patients on treatment, an increase of 4 183 from the 24 613 patients recorded in 2024/25. Image: Gauteng Health
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South Africa
Gauteng reports improved HIV and TB treatment retention
Gauteng has recorded an increase in the number of HIV-positive people remaining on treatment, while more TB patients were also placed on treatment during the 2025/26 financial year, according to the provincial Department of Health.
The Gauteng Department of Health says it has strengthened its efforts to combat HIV and tuberculosis (TB), with improved treatment retention recorded during the 2025/26 financial year.
According to the department’s 2025/26 Annual Report, 1 295 104 HIV clients remained on treatment, up from 1 261 198 recorded in the previous financial year.
The province also reported 27 471 TB patients on treatment, an increase of 4 183 from the 24 613 patients recorded in 2024/25.
The department attributed the improvement to intensified efforts to trace patients who miss appointments, follow up on missed appointments and refer people who test positive for HIV to Ward-Based Primary Healthcare Outreach Teams.
It said initiatives such as the 1.1 Million ART campaign and Khumbule Khaya also contributed to improved retention.
For TB patients, the department said effective tracing of people who had been lost to follow-up, together with WhatsApp reminders encouraging patients to return for their results and start treatment, helped improve treatment numbers.
Despite the progress, the number of people remaining on HIV treatment was still below the provincial target of 1 486 958. The department attributed the gap to high loss-to-follow-up rates, missed appointments and incorrect contact details.
To address this, the province has introduced several measures, including a Transfer-Out Standard Operating Procedure aimed at ensuring patients moving between healthcare facilities continue receiving uninterrupted antiretroviral therapy.
Other interventions include seven-day telephone tracing, six-month ART dispensing for eligible patients through the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution programme, strengthened outreach tracing and the use of HIV testing organisations to assist with tracing patients.
The department is also taking healthcare services into informal settlements, hostels and farming communities through outreach programmes such as Siyabaphilisa.
Gauteng further reported progress in keeping children on HIV treatment. The proportion of HIV-positive children retained on ART at 12 months increased to 71.7%, from 70.8% in the previous financial year.
Adult viral load suppression also improved from 73.9% to 81.5%, while viral load suppression among children increased from 49% to 58.4%.
The province recorded a slight decline in the proportion of HIV-positive people aged between 15 and 24, from 0.9% in 2024/25 to 0.8% in 2025/26.
The department said the decline could be linked to HIV index-contact testing, which identifies sexual partners, needle-sharing partners and biological children of people living with HIV and offers them voluntary testing.
Gauteng conducted 4 935 976 HIV tests during the financial year. Although this was lower than the 5 191 951 tests conducted in 2024/25, the figure exceeded the annual target of 4 857 179, representing an achievement rate of 102%.
Between June and August, the department recorded 24 390 new Lenacapavir initiations, providing six months of protection against HIV. Johannesburg recorded the highest number of initiations at 9 723.
The department said it would continue working to increase the number of people remaining on HIV treatment and ensure TB patients complete their treatment.
It will also expand prevention initiatives, including Lenacapavir, PrEP and voluntary medical male circumcision, as well as condom distribution at public spaces, youth centres, universities and community events.
