2008 findings from HIV/AIDS survey have shown that South Africa is experiencing the largest HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world. An estimated 5.6 million South Africans are HIV positive.  The Western Cape has a prevalence of 9% of infected young adults. The epidemic in the Western Cape has not yet peaked but new infections are much higher than the number of AIDS related-deaths. Additionally, the City of Cape Town has demonstrated that some key mortality and morbidity statistics in Khayelitsha, (Cape Town's largest township) are improving. This is likely due to the HIV/Aids-related health interventions introduced in Khayelitsha.

This new information is promising, and government and all South Africans should be proud of us for the efforts to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS.  However, we must also recognize that it will take greater effort to improve the infection rate.

Concerns

• According to the study, the epidemic varies between provinces. The adult HIV prevalence rate for the provinces ranges from 28% in Kwazulu-Natal to 9% in the Western Cape.
• The Western Cape has the highest estimated take-up rate on antiretroviral treatment. Around 55 000  people are in need of antiretroviral treatment in 2008 of whom 74% having taken up treatment

"The need to act and to keep the promises we have made in responding to HIV and Aids remains as urgent as ever," the UNAIDS body said following the news that world HIV infection estimates had been downscaled from 40 million in 2006 to 33 million. 

Main challenges

There have been many challenges identified for 2007/ 2008.  From our point of view as citizens, the most important ones seem to be:

• Implementing HIV/AIDS prevention strategies.
• Fast-tracking the registration of new drugs. This is especially important, given the rapidly changing knowledge and advances in antiretroviral treatment.

HIV/AIDS donations

You can make a crossed cheque payable to "AIDS FOUNDATION OF SOUTH AFRICA "and mail it to the following postal address:

PO BOX 50582
Musgrave
Durban
4062
South Africa

OR

You can make an electronic transfer to deposit donations into the AIDS Foundation of South Africa's bank account. For account and transfer details, please contact Ms Nivanie Pillay at nivanie(at)aids.org.za

Worlds AIDS Day Events

See our Events link for more information on this.

1. 46664 concert

2. For World Aids Day history, click here. 

3. Check the link below for possibly more info:

Bizcommunity

 
More information

To view a list of organisations dealing with issues of HIV/AIDS, click on:

• Aidsbuzz 
• Lovelife 

If you need HIV/AIDS-related counselling or support, you can try the following links:

• Aid shelp line 
• Lovelife  

HIV/AIDS testing

If you would like to be tested, to check your HIV status, you can get this done free at a City Of Cape Town Day Clinic.  Click here to find your nearest clinic and find out your status today. 

Sources:

• Afroiadsinfo 
•  Avert 
• Aidsportal
• Aids.org
• Aidsconsortium
• TAC
• Metam