"People no longer accept that the sick and dying, simply because they are poor, should be denied drugs..." Kofi Annan, Global Aids Fund announcement, 26 April 2001
South Africa’s HIV epidemic has levelled off at a prevalence of 10.9% for people aged two years and older, with 5.2 million people estimated to be living with HIV in 2008. HIV prevalence has also declined among children aged 2-14, from 5.6% in 2002 to 2.5% in 2008, and a decline in new infections has also been noted among teenagers aged 15-19.
SAfAIDS in partnership with Seke Rural, has implemented a pilot project in Zimbabwe in which community dialogues were used to address harmful cultural practices.
Increasing adult mortality due to HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa raises considerable concerns about the welfare of surviving children. Studies have found substantial variability across countries in the negative impacts of orphanhood on child health and education.