South Africa

South Africa’s 60.000.000 population comprises the world’s biggest HIV epidemic. In 2022 there were an estimated 7.6 million people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite the increased availability of HIV medication this is a rise of 700000 infected people in 7 years. In 2015 there were an estimated 6.9 million PLHIV.

The number of HIV infected men greatly differs with that of HIV infected women. In 2022 there were an estimated 4.8 million women HIV infected and only 2.6 million men. There is a positive side to these sad numbers. The increased availability of HIV medication has lowered the number of AIDS related deaths dramatically. It dropped from 150000 in 2010 to 45000 in 2022. South Africa’s HIV-population is getting older.
The number of new HIV infections has dropped sharply too. From 380000 in 2010 to 160000 in 2022. Especially encouraging is the number of new infections in children (0-14 years). It dropped from 32000 in 2010 to 8.000 in 2022. There are still many problems to address. High levels of stigma homophobia and ignorance prevent many PLHIV from getting the health care they need. And South Africa has a notorious reputation when it comes to sexual violence towards women.
Yet there are grounds for hope. South Africa has the largest Antiretroviral therapy (ART) program in the world. And it was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to approve PrEP.
(Sources AVERT and UNAIDS)

North Star Alliance Clinic

Johannesburg, South Africa

If only the stigma goes down and people are coming to do the test…

North Star Alliance has 36 blue box clinics operating across 10 countries in Africa. One of them is located in Pomona Truck Stop, Johannesburg. In 2015 more then 250 thousand people visited these clinics.
The North Star Alliance clinics are an important weapon to fight the HIV and AIDS epidemic among hard-to reach populations, like truck drivers and sex workers.