South Africa is home to a racially and culturally diverse population of 45 million people, including 5.7 million people living with HIV.
Facing an HIV prevalence rate of 18.1
percent, the government launched a comprehensive HIV/AIDS Care, Management, and Treatment Plan in 2003 to promote access to free ARVs. As of September 2007, some 329,000 people were on ART. A sharp rise of multi-drug resistant TB among HIV patients poses a significant threat and has prompted national efforts to integrate treatment for HIV, TB, STIs, and other communicable diseases.
With support from the US President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US government team in country, the HIV/AIDS Twinning Center manages two
partnerships and a Volunteer Healthcare Corps initiative in South Africa. A third partnership is currently under development.
In 2006, the Twinning Center established a country office in Pretoria to provide programmatic and logistical support to partners in South Africa and other countries in the
region. Staff also work closely with local government
agencies and the US Government team to identify and facilitate needs-driven partnerships.
(source: PEPFAR Country Profile, May 2009)
Updated June 8, 2009
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