AIDS in South Africa

Africa is currently the worst affected area by HIV and AIDS. The numbers have reached unbelievable proportions; AIDS in South Africa claims the lives of around 1000 people every single day and in 2005 there were around 5.5 million people in South Africa living with HIV. The treatment available more readily in other countries to slow down the rate in which HIV attacks the immune system is difficult to get a hold of in South Africa where it is needed the most. Without antiretroviral therapy, death is likely to occur within the space of just one year and in South Africa can be as little as 6 months from diagnosis. The death toll is reaching such dramatic proportions that cemeteries in South Africa are running out of space for the dead.

More than 50% of teenagers in South Africa are not expected to reach 60 years of age. Around 60% of all medical expenses are expected to be spent on the treatment of AIDS.

The incompetence of the way in which African Officials are dealing with AIDS can be easily highlighted by an incident in 2006 involving Jacob Zuma the former Deputy President. Following the incident it came to light that Jacob Zuma had showered after having sex with a HIV positive woman in the belief that it reduced his chances of contracting the virus. It was only after this at the end of the year, after receiving extensive criticism that the government pledged to tackle AIDS in South Africa and improve the access to antiretroviral treatment.