The AIDS epidemic severely strains the limited resources of the health system and threatens the well-being of families, particularly children. More than 5.5 million South Africans have the AIDS virus. The number of people of reproductive age with HIV prevalence has risen to 30% from less than 3% a decade ago.

The Challenge

South Africa has more HIV-infected adults and children than any other country in the world. About 1,700 South Africans become infected with HIV every day. AIDS is the leading cause of death among adults. Up to 60% of hospital beds are occupied by patients with HIV-associated illnesses. UNAIDS estimates more than 2 million South African children have been orphaned by AIDS (lost at least one parent). AIDS also hits South Africa's education sector, public service and economy hard, and can impoverish surviving family members.

Prevention

USAID's prevention efforts encourage youth to practice safe behavior using the ABC model-"Abstinence, Be faithful for younger youth, and provide information on correct and consistent use of Condoms for older youth or those at risk," in that order. Another priority is to provide the drug Nevirapine to pregnant women who are HIV positive to prevent passing the virus to their unborn babies. USAID is expanding these services to sites that will train health practitioners in prevention of mother to child transmission techniques in highly affected provinces. USAID also works with local groups to expand successful community-based HIV/AIDS prevention and education activities. Support is given to several adolescent-friendly programs focusing on abstinence and male involvement.

Treatment

USAID assists people to get treatment for HIV in many ways. Managing the disease includes treating related infections such as tuberculosis that attack a weakened immune system. USAID helps to track how patients react to drug treatments so adjustments can be made for the most effective medical assistance possible. USAID assists the South African Government and businesses to establish workplace policies, provide treatment and help employees affected by AIDS to continue to work productively.

In 2004, USAID brokered a partnership that works with public facilities and non governmental organization treatment sites to augment staff and train health care providers in administering antiretrovirals (ARVs) and full treatment services to more than 30,000 HIV positive patients in 15 different locations. More patients will be assisted at more sites during 2006.

AIDS is considered now a pandemic. In fact, an estimated of more than thirty three million is now living with the disease and it has killed an estimated of more than two million people to which the three hundred thirty thousand people are children.

To which the three quarters of deaths are known are from sub Saharan Africa. Scientist believes that HIV had originated from the African region from 20th century.

From 20th century up to now, the African region is considered the most affected region of HIV and AIDS. Though Africa is just inhabited by more than twelve percent of world’s population, Africa’s sixty percent population is known to have been afflicted with AIDS.

At present, there is a synergy between tubeculosis and HIV because tuberculosis is the major cause of death of HIV/AIDS infected people.

Several factors that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa:

Poverty
Stigma of admitting to HIV/AIDS
Uneducation
Wrong myth about use of condoms as they believe that condoms are use to put limit on African population
Denial that HIV causes HIV

In African region, 35 nations that has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS cases has the life expectancy of 48.3 or less than 6.5 years for those who don’t have the disease.

AIDS is the worst pandemic that hit the modern world. According statistics, the estimated number of people living with AIDS had reached 30,000,000 and it had already claimed lives of over 2,000,000 people.

It is estimated that 330,000 out of 2,000,000 people who died of AIDS are children.

The three quarters of AIDS death came from the sub Saharan region of Africa. Accordingly, scientists believe that the Human Immunodeficiency virus had started from the African region during the twentieth century.

Since its first discovery in the 1980’s the region of Africa has the most number of HIV and AIDS cases. Though Africa’s population comprises only the 12 of the world’s population, but 60 of their population is living with HIV/AIDS.
In present conditions, the synergy of HIV and tuberculosis is high because tuberculosis is the leading cause of death for HIV/AIDS cases.

Factors that affect HIV/AIDS in Africa:

1. Stigma of admitting HIV/AIDS
2. Lack of education about HIV/AIDS
3. Poverty
4. Denial that HIV causes AIDS
5. Wrong myth about condoms as they have wrong notion that condoms are use to limit population of Africans

The life expectancy of HIV/AIDS infected people in the thirty five nations of Africa is 48.3 or a decrease of more than six years for those that are not infected with the disease.