Podcast PX Pulse
PxPulse: An Advocacy Chronicle on U=U in South Africa with Mandisa Dukashe
On this episode of PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles, Mandisa Tyadi Dukashe, Treatment Technical Lead at the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) describes her work in helping to inspire and launch a National U=U Campaign in South Africa in 2024.
What is U=U? Undetectable equals Untransmittable refers to a major breakthrough in the science and understanding of HIV treatment. From data published in 2019, researchers confirmed that people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load and take medication as prescribed have zero risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.
This evidence galvanized a worldwide campaign, with the hope that spreading the word, Undetectable equals Untransmittable, would reduce stigma around HIV and inspire people to maintain their treatment.
The WHO released guidance in 2023 on how to monitor viral load, which provided supportive global policy for ministries of health. But WHO action is not enough to set public health policy or fulfill the promise of U=U.
Mandisa has long list of credentials behind her: She’s the co-founder of the U=U Africa Forum, part of the U=U Global Community Advisory Board, an alumnus of the AVAC Cure Research program and the AVAC Advocacy Fellows Program. Among many accolades, she has also been recognized as a 2021 Amazing People Living with HIV by HIV Plus Magazine.
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