On 27 October 2025, Ritshidze launched a detailed report into the state of the public healthcare system in Limpopo that reveals the challenges arising in our clinics following the PEPFAR disruptions earlier in the year. Overall there has been zero progress on extending ARV supply to 6 months and Vhembe is falling behind in providing 3 month supply. Fewer people have access to community treatment pick-up points and facility pick-up points are not running as quick or “one-stop”. While staff are friendly towards public healthcare users, queer and trans people, people who use drugs, and sex workers continue to be treated with hostility.
The full press release is here.
This is the third edition of the annual Limpopo State of Health report. Prior to the end of January 2025, Ritshidze data was collected across sites in two PEPFAR priority districts in Limpopo: Capricorn and Mopani. While Ritshidze monitoring will continue in these districts, PEPFAR implementing partners have now had their contracts terminated in both districts – the province is no longer receiving PEPFAR support. Ritshidze data will be able to document any changes in the quality of service provision following the PEPFAR disruptions. From this reporting period, Ritshidze data will also be collected in Vhembe, a non-PEPFAR priority district. By moving beyond only monitoring PEPFAR priority districts, Ritshidze aims to understand the quality of service provision in the next layer of high demand/high burden districts.
Facility level data was collected between April 2025 and June 2025 at 60 public health facilities in three districts: Capricorn (20 sites), Mopani (20 sites), and Vhembe (20 sites). Surveys were carried out with 60 Facility Managers, 1,679 public healthcare users and 1,367 people living with HIV in the Patient survey, and 3,200 public healthcare users in the Patient Exit survey.
Key Population service data was collected in the community between July 2024 and September 2024 in three districts in Limpopo: Capricorn, Mopani, and Vhembe. A total of 1,679 surveys were carried out in the province (including 1,367 people using public health facilities). This combined 264 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), 603 people who use drugs, 299 sex workers, and 201 trans people.
#LPHealth #KeyPopsHealth
