South Africa is the center of the HIV epidemic in the world. One-third of people found to be HIV-positive are teenage girls and young women. Many live with AIDS, but the disease remains a taboo subject in the territory.
More than 1,600 new infections recorded in South Africa every week
Le SIDA (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the end stage of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV). It is a major health problem in South Africawhich is today the first focus of the epidemic.
Every week, more than 1,600 new contaminations are recorded in the country, and a third of those affected are adolescents and young women, reports The world. According to information relayed by the media, 15 to 24 year olds are three times more likely to contract the virus than men of the same age.
Less than half of young people who test positive are on antiretroviral treatment
About 7.8 million people are living with VIH/SIDA in South Africa, yet the disease remains taboo. The harshness of the public healthcare system also prevents people who test positive from seeking treatment.
According to a study published in the journal The Lancet HIV in 2019, researchers estimate that less than half of young patients are taking antiretroviral treatment in South Africa. However, the country has the largest antiretroviral program in the world.