Size of the Task
Since 1975, 20 million people have died from Aids-related diseases worldwide. In 2004 alone, there were 3.1 million Aids-related deaths, and 39.4 million people were living with HIV.
Although sub-Saharan Africa is home to only 10% of the world's population, almost two-thirds of all HIV positive people (64%) live in this area. This means that the rate of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa is 16 times the average for the rest of the world.
The most vulnerable: women, youth and the poor:
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For every 10 infected men there are 13 infected women.
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If infection rates continue to rise as they are now, research indicates that 60% of those who are 15 years old today will not live to reach 60.
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Poor families are becoming poorer because of the high costs of caring for those that are ill with AIDS.
South Africa
Of all countries in the world, South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV (5.3 million in 2003, or 12.9% of the total population). It is estimated that by 2010, 16% of all our children will have lost one or both parents, and we will have more than 2 million orphans.
The Western Cape
The Western Cape has one of the lowest infection rates among the nine provinces. For a long time it was lagging 5 to 6 years behind the average, but sadly this has changed over the past few years. Some communities are now recording infection rates of 19% (Heidelberg and Stellenbosch), 27% (Khayelitsha) and 28% (Nyanga and Gugulethu). The trends indicate that by 2010 we will have 44 000 orphans in the Western Cape.