Useful Links

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

About HIV/AIDS - World Health Organisation

HIV InSite - a good source for comprehensive, in-depth HIV/AIDS information and knowledge

Sub-Saharan Africa

AfroAIDSInfo - An HIV/AIDS information portal for Southern Africa

Links - South Africa

Treatment Action Campaign: campaigns for greater access to HIV treatment for all South Africans

The Aids Consortium - a network of over 1000 members, mainly community-based organisations focusing on HIV/AIDS related issues

AIDSLink - provide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS

The Aids Foundation of South Africa - mobilises and manages resources for HIV/AIDS work in the country. Contains good information about the HIV/AIDS virus

Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) - a South African non-profit organisation working in the area of HIV/AIDS social research, project development and communications

Department of Health, South Africa - HIV/AIDS page

The Red Ribbon - a South African portal on HIV/AIDS

The Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication

South Africa launches new Aids campaign

In April 2010 South Africa launched its HIV Counselling and Testing campaign which offers free testing to all patients at public hospitals and clinics across the country. The aim is to get up to 15-million South Africans tested by June 2011.

AIDS in South Africa

South Africa has one of the most severe AIDS epidemics in the world. At the end of 2007, there were approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. HIV is so widespread that almost one in five adults are infected.

HIV impacts not only on the lives of those infected but also on their families, friends and wider communities. With antiretroviral drug treatment, HIV-positive people can maintain their health and often lead relatively normal lives. Sadly, few people in South Africa have access to this treatment and as a result AIDS deaths are alarmingly common throughout the country.

It is thought that almost half of all deaths in South Africa, and a staggering 71% of deaths among those aged between 15 and 49, are caused by AIDS.

For more information see The scale of South Africa’s AIDS crisis by the AIDS charity AVERT.