THE NEED: HIV & AIDS

Southern Africa remains the region worst-affected by HIV AIDS. Factors contributing to this include: poverty, social instability, high levels of sexual transmissions, and migrant labor.

The province of KwaZulu Natal has the highest prevalence in the country (39.1%) and this leads to many social, emotional and economic problems. Not only do people with AIDS have to deal with the stigma of being rejected by community members, but the many orphans left by infected parents must be looked after by the community—often resulting in old pensioners or young children having to lead the family. It was estimated that in 2005 there were 1 200 000 orphans in South Africa due to AIDS.