Basic AIDS stats for SA
· At least 4.6 million people ‘ over 11.5% of the population ‘ are estimated to be living with HIV.
· AIDS is the leading cause of death in South Africa and in 2002, it accounted for 40% of all deaths in South Africa and over half of all deaths in KwaZulu-Natal (52%) and Mpumalanga (51%).
· By mid-2002, an estimated 688 000 people had died of AIDS-related illnesses in South Africa.
· 27.9% of pregnant women were HIV positive in 2003. This seems to indicate that the prevalence rate is levelling off, but experts warn this could be because many people have died rather than an indication that people are changing their sexual behaviour.
· By 2002, about 336 300 children under 18 were orphans as a result of AIDS.
· 15 000 people are getting antiretroviral drugs through public health and 45 000 through workplace programmes. Some 500 000 people are believed to need ARVs.
· From next year, ARVs will be part of the ‘prescribed minimum benefits’ package that medical aid schemes have to offer all their members.
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