The Need

The HIV pandemic has affected Africa on a greater scale than any other continent. 29 million of the 42 million people who are HIV positive live in Africa and 80% of children with the virus are African. Of the 3 million people who died of AIDS-related diseases last year, 2.2 million where from sub-Sahara Africa. The consequences of this unfolding disaster affect every area of society and have led on from a healthcare and social tragedy to contribute to the current developmental crisis throughout Southern Africa.

The spread of HIV/AIDS has been blamed as arguably the greatest factor in the development slowdown in most Southern African countries. In fact, as measured by WHO indices of development, many countries in the region are actually regressing. For example, in Malawi the average life-expectancy has recently dropped below 40 and continues to fall and there has been a staggering 71% increase in maternal mortality rates.

Already burdened by the world's highest HIV infection rates, Southern Africa is currently experiencing a prolonged drought causing widespread famine. The recent heavy rains and flash floods have only served to remove the thin topsoil in many areas and delay the return to farming even at a subsistence level. Save The Children estimates that 12m people are facing extreme food shortages leading the UN Sec-General's Special Envoy to the region, Stephen Lewis to warn that the indifferent response to the unfolding disaster 'threatens the very existence of whole countries through the grinding down of society.'