The fight against HIV, AIDS continues in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the most affected area in the world.
According to the 2014 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer, HIV and AIDS prevalence has decreased consistently over the past decade as fewer people are becoming infected.
New infections among adults have decreased by over 50 per cent in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. New infections among adults have decreased by over 25 per cent in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.
Despite this progress, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the most affected area in the world. SADC accounts for 55 per cent of all people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and 38 percent of the total number in the whole world.
SADC also accounts for 50 per cent of the children living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and 45 per cent of the total global number.
Gender disparities continue to be a major driver of the pandemic. Women account for 58%of those living with HIV in the sub-Saharan region. Women bear the greatest burden of care.
The latest report from UNAIDS places Mozambique among the top 15 countries worst hit by the HIV &AIDS pandemic in the world.
As we celebrate World AIDS Day GL’s Mozambique reporter and editor—Jose Tembe, investigates the situation in Mozambique.
He looks at how gender based violence (GBV) fuels HIV; how stigma drives further abuse; and what countries can we learn from various HIV campaigns to fight the scourge of GBV.
