HIV / Aids in South Africa - The National Picture
HIV/Aids has taken a back-seat in media and popularity of support causes yet remains the greatest, most significant threat to our countries long term economic development until there is a cure. It is difficult to measure the actual impact of the disease: "A review of the quality of cause of death data from 115 WHO member countries, published in 2005, categorised South Africa as having low quality cause of death data based on a combination of a more than 20% of deaths being ill-defined deaths and less than 70% of deaths being registered."3
Nearly one-third (31,0%) of the population is aged younger than 15 years and approximately 7,6% (3,8 million) is 60 years or older. Of those younger than 15 years, approximately 23% (3,52 million) live in KwaZulu-Natal and 19,3% (2,99 million) live in Gauteng.
The estimated overall HIV prevalence rate is approximately 10,5%. The total number of people living with HIV is estimated at approximately 5,24 million. For adults aged 15–49 years, an estimated 17% of the population is HIV positive.
For 2010 approximately 1,6 million people aged 15 and older; and approximately 183 000 children would be in need of ART. The total number of new HIV infections for 2010 is estimated at 410 000. Of these, an estimated 40 000 will be among children.
There is a dire need to focus sustained direct support into HIV/AIDS prevention programs
3 http://www.mrc.ac.za/bod/cause_death_statsSA.pdf
