TB HIV Care
Public health campaigns
TB HIV Care remains committed to innovation, compassion, and excellence. Through these campaigns, we continue to extend lifesaving services, amplify marginalised voices, and work tirelessly toward a South Africa free from the burden of TB and HIV.
About the campaign
The 1.1 Million “Close the Gap” Campaign is a bold national effort to close South Africa’s HIV treatment gap by December 2025. This initiative is led by South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), the National Department of Health (NDoH), and collaborating partners. Beyond statistics, the campaign is about renewing hope, opening access, and dismantling down stigma.
TB HIV Care’s role in the campaign
TB HIV Care is a proud partner in the 1.1 million “Close the Gap” Campaign. Through communications, demand creation, clinical support, training, and community engagement, we help expand the campaign’s reach and keep the momentum going. Even in programmes we don’t directly lead or fund, we ensure strong governance so that all communication remains stigma-free, inclusive, and aligned with the campaign’s vision.
Campaign Aim and Objectives
- Close South Africa’s HIV treatment gap by December 2025.
- Ensure more people living with HIV receive and stay on life-saving treatment.
- Achieve universal viral suppression to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
- Eradicate HIV, TB, stigma, and prevent HIV-negative people from contracting the disease.
- Promote compassion, inclusivity, and understanding to reduce fear, discrimination, and marginalisation.
- Integrate stigma reduction into TUTT (Targeted Universal Testing), TB, HIV, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and U=U efforts to maximise impact.
Contact
Michelle Carey,
Demand Creation Manager
Email: MichelleC@tbhivcare.org
Call: +27 (0) 76 2898492
Get involved!
For more information and to access our services, call our Contact Centre on
0800 111 139.
What is U=U?
U=U stands for “Undetectable = Untransmittable.” It is a public health message based on robust scientific evidence: people living with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy (ART) consistently and achieve, and maintain, an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus to HIV-negative partners. This concept is grounded in major studies such as HPTN 052, PARTNER, and Opposites Attract, which showed that once viral load is suppressed to undetectable levels, the risk of HIV transmission is effectively zero.
TB HIV Care’s role in the campaign
TB HIV Care champions the U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) message with compassion, helping people living with HIV understand that staying on treatment not only keeps them healthy, but also protects their loved ones too. Through community outreach, education and support, we guide individuals (especially youth and vulnerable groups) towards consistent care, while breaking down stigma and fear around HIV. By partnering with local and international organisations, we amplify the message of ‘healthy, informed and empowered communities.’
Why U=U matters in South Africa
South Africa is among the countries most heavily impacted by HIV. The relevance of U=U in the South African context includes:
- High prevalence and burden of disease. Many South Africans live with HIV, and new infections remain a public health challenge.
- Barriers due to stigma. Fear of rejection, discrimination, and misinformation often deter people from seeking testing, treatment, or disclosing status. U=U addresses those psychological and social barriers.
- Public health opportunity. By leveraging U=U, South Africa can strengthen its national HIV response, making treatment a tool of prevention, not only care.
- Equity and human rights dimensions. U=U supports the rights of people living with HIV to live free of stigma, discrimination, and undue fear in relationships, workplaces, and communities.
By integrating U=U into HIV messaging, South Africa can shift both policy and public culture toward a more hopeful, science-driven approach.
Campaign aim and objectives
The U=U campaign in South Africa sets out to:
- Raise widespread awareness of the scientific fact that undetectable = untransmittable.
- Embed U=U messaging across health systems, community organizations, media, and public education platforms.
- Motivate testing and early treatment initiation so more people living with HIV can achieve viral suppression.
- Improve retention in care and adherence so that viral suppression is sustained over time.
- Reduce HIV-related stigma, in families, communities, workplaces, and health settings.
- Change public attitudes toward HIV, reframing it from fear to one of empowerment, prevention, and shared responsibility.
- In the broader view, by helping more individuals maintain undetectable viral loads, U=U contributes to the national goal of reducing new HIV infections, improving quality of life, and moving toward ending the HIV epidemic in South Africa.
Downloads
Campaign materialMichelle Carey,
Demand Creation Manager
Email: MichelleC@tbhivcare.org
Cell: +27 (0) 76 2898492
Website: sanac.org.za
Get involved!
For more information and to access our services, call our contact centre on
0800 111 139.
Footer logo
