South Africa

The Problem

There are estimated to be 5.6 million people living with HIV in South Africa (1). Some progress has been made, especially in relation to prevention of mother-to-child transmission and treatment for those with advanced HIV, however with over 400,000 new infections in 2008, there is still a great deal to be done:

• 3.3 million women and girls are infected with HIV.
• Only 27% of MSM have been tested and know their HIV status.
• 1.9 million children have lost a mother or father to AIDS (2).

Our Response

South Africa has the largest number of people living with the virus in a single country and where EJAF has invested the most funding in response. EJAF’s support has helped to deliver better healthcare, food and education opportunities to children. We supported palliative and home-based care before treatment for HIV was available and in recent years have been working to scale-up antiretroviral treatment at a provincial level. Finding ways to lessen the vulnerability of young women to HIV has also been a focus, as well as supporting services targeting the most vulnerable communities

Our Strategy

EJAF’s recent approach in South Africa is to fund programmes of work that strengthen local or national provision and can be scaled up to address issues:

HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care

Programmes that work on the expansion of ART services and palliative and home-based care.

 

Scaling up response to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children 

Programmes that address the multiple needs of children, including access to healthcare and education, adequate nutrition, shelter and emotional support.

 

Addressing the needs of women

Strategic programmes that aim to decrease the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV and to mitigate its impact on them. These include:

 

• Providing integrated services that include sexual reproductive health, HIV testing/treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
• Legal/human rights programmes that empower women infected, affected and at risk of HIV to make informed choices and protect themselves.
• Providing high impact food security and income generation programmes.

 

Organisations/networks of People Living with HIV (PLWH)

Programmes which empower PLWH to play a key role in the development of services, improve their quality of life and exercise self-determination.

1. UNAIDS 2009

2. UNAIDS 2009