The fight against HIV & AIDS

General situation and the impact of HIV & AIDS on society

In South Africa a total of about 5.7 million people are infected with HIV. Worldwide this is the highest number of people in a single country. More than half of the people living with HIV are women (55%). They are also the ones  who, arguably, suffer the most under the burden of the epidemic and its consequences.

Awareness

A school wall in Mamelodi Enlarge image A school wall in Mamelodi (© GIZ/YDF) A number of risk factors contribute to the extremely high HIV prevalence rate. On the one hand, the practice of having multiple concurrent partnerships is fairly widespread in South Africa. On the other hand, the measures available to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases are not alwys employed consistently. 

Due to their low societal status, women often have very little say in their sex life and are therefore not able to insist on practicing safe sex. They are also very often subjected to domestic violence. The stigmatisation of and discrimination against people living with HIV & AIDS are still very high, whereas access to health services  is still very unequally distributed. Both factors prevent many people from deterkining their HIV status.

Impact on society

HIV & AIDS can potentially endanger the economic development and social stability of a country. The pandemic threatens the existence of many families, since it is often the main bread winner in the family who falls sick and passes away. By then, health expenditures have often depleted all savings and financially crippled the families. 

Aids Education in Africa Enlarge image Aids Education in Africa (© picture-alliance/ dpa) In many families children have to take care of their sick parents and child headed households have become a common occurrence. Especially children and women are at risk of economic and sexual exploitation. The health, education and personal development of the affected children is significantly limited.

HIV & AIDS is an important topic in German Development Cooperation with South Africa and is considered in all programmes and projects. The German implementing organisations (GIZ andKfW) are working jointly in a programme to support the implementation of the HIV & AIDS National Strategic Plan of South Africa. The focus of the support is prevention of new HIV infections.

HIV & AIDS