HIV/AIDS in Africa

Malnutrition and food insecurity may accelerate the spread of HIV, while the onset of full-blown AIDS and even death may be delayed in well-nourished people.

In November 2003 the South African government launched its much-anticipated HIV/AIDS treatment programme, committing itself to providing free antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to 53,000 HIV-positive people by March 2004.

Botswana has started providing antiretroviral drugs to soldiers in an effort to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on its armed forces.

UN envoy Stephen Lewis spent a week in Angola assessing the impact of HIV/AIDS

Although South Africa has been widely criticised for its slow rollout of anti-AIDS drugs, experts believe this presents a unique opportunity for government and organisations to implement HIV prevention strategies.

African Union Leaders Approve Development of Plan To Encourage Production of Generic AIDS, TB, Malaria Drugs on Continent

This report is based on reports and updates provided by dozens of international, national and community organizations involved in scaling up ARV therapy. We thank everyone who has contributed to this progress report. WHO departments at the headquarters, regional and country levels worked with national governments and nongovernmental organizations to gather the latest information on the scaling up of ARV therapy. The UNAIDS Secretariat and the UNAIDS Cosponsors gathered information on how United Nations agencies and international nongovernmental organizations are translating the rapidly expanding commitment to 3 by 5 into action.

Many people with HIV/AIDS cannot afford treatment at hospitals

According to the citizens of Africa, Latin America and West Asia, HIV/Aids is the most important disease in these regions but it is seen as the second most important disease overall by citizens of the world. This was the most important finding in a survey released worldwide today by Gallup International, and their South African associate, Markinor.

The Ugandan government's efforts to scale up anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs to cater for about 120,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, received a boost with the donation on Friday of US 70.35 million dollars from the Global Fund on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.