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HIV and AIDS

As we all know HIV and AIDS is a pandemic in South Africa and in Southern Africa in general. Research shows that girls and young women between the ages of 15-24 are most at risk to HIV infection due to a range of biological, social, economic and cultural factors. On this page we provide you with information such as what HIV and AIDS are, methods of preventing HIV infection, treatment options and some of the challenges faced by girls and young women who are caring for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

What is HIV? "HIV" stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV lives in blood and other body fluids that contain blood or white blood cells. A person who has the virus can pass it on to others through unsafe sex and sharing injections and mothers can pass the virus on to their babies. You can’t tell if a person has the virus by looking at them, you can only know if you have the virus if you go for a test. .................................................. when can I get infected? You can become infected with HIV from even one instance of unprotected sex. While complete abstinence is the surest way to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, protecting yourself with a latex condom or barrier at every sexual encounter is very important. ..................................................		Action on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS:Southern Africa This is a afct sheet,produced by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and gives a summary of some interesting facts and resources about African girls and HIV. For instance, did you know that in South Africa, a study found that caring for people with HIV/AIDS has eaten up as much as 60% of the time women and girls used to spend doing other housework or gardening - which means we have less time for growing food to sell or eat. click here to go to the resource...>> ..................................................
Nkosi Johnson's enduring legacy South Africa's famous child Aids activist Nkosi Johnson, who was born with HIV and died at the age of 12 in 2001, was posthumously(occurring after one’s death) awarded the first KidsRights Foundation's international Children's Peace Prize in Rome last Thursday. "The Children Peace Prize statuette, which is passed on to the new child laureate every year, will be called the Nkosi," the organisers said. The prize was accepted by Nkosi's foster mother Gail Johnson and his four-year-old foster brother click here for more information ..................................................		How people can get infected by AIDS "Having unprotected sex" more...>> .................................................. My body is sacred People have been injected with needles of people who are HIV positive, after the doctors inject others with those needles with the HIV virus..... more...>> ..................................................