The HIV/AIDS pandemic

HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal

HIV/AIDS is now a pandemic in South Africa, and KwaZulu-Natal Province has become the AIDS capital of the world.  In a recent sample of 800 high school children more than 30% were HIV positive. 46% of mothers attending pre-natal classes are HIV positive in the rural areas. 5.7 million in South Africa are HIV positive of a total population of 48 million. That is 12% of the population and there are 2.5 million AIDS orphans (Unicef 2007-2008).

Many initiatives are being developed around palliative care programmes. Although, due to the enormity of the problem, it seems little is being done. Research by the Rehoboth Trust has shown that hospitals are housing an increasing number of children with AIDS who cannot be placed back home and therefore remain hospitalised. Nursing staff does not have enough time to give the much needed attention and so the children’s health declines rapidly. Dr. Bill Hardy, Medical Officer at Murchison hospital (a rural district hospital) and others have expressed their concern that, for this specific group of children, nothing is being done. 

Dr. Bill Hardy, has written: "Most of these infected children lie abandoned in hospital wards for months or even years – where many of them eventually die! I believe Rehoboth’s vision would greatly benefit the children associated with our local community hospitals. Orphanages in our area are overcrowded and understaffed, and cannot meet the special needs of these ill children. Moreover, there is a reluctance to accept these children into orphanages and house care".