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Over 600 South Africans infected with HIV everyday
Durban, Aug 05: In an indication of the seriousness of South Africa`s AIDS epidemic, research has revealed that a whopping 600 people are infected with the HIV virus everyday in the country.
Durban, Aug 05: In an indication of the seriousness of South Africa's AIDS epidemic, research has revealed that a whopping 600 people are infected with the HIV virus everyday in the country.
Studies by Abdul Karrim, a researcher who released his findings at a AIDS conference here showed that of the daily 14,000 new HIV infections worldwide, 600 were in South Africa alone.
More than 2400 delegates are attending the South African National Aids Conference here.
Karrim's research has revealed that of the daily 14,000 new HIV infections worldwide, 600 are in South Africa. It has also been revealed that the average HIV positive baby will die before its fourth birthday, and could cost the government around 28,000 rand in medical bills before he or she dies.
The conference also heard that in some parts of the country, half of all pregnant women are infected with HIV. Infections in pregnant women were also found to be higher in some areas than in sex workers.
The conference has already plunged into controversy with the non-government Treatment Action Campaign(TAC) holding a protest march against the repeated failure of the government to provide anti-retroviral drugs for Aids-affected people.
The leader of the TAC, Zackie Achmat, has caused an uproar by declaring that the government's failure to act was tantamount to genocide and a crime against humanity.
More than 5 million people are infected with the disease and more than 600 people reportedly die every day from the pandemic.
Bureau Report
Studies by Abdul Karrim, a researcher who released his findings at a AIDS conference here showed that of the daily 14,000 new HIV infections worldwide, 600 were in South Africa alone.
More than 2400 delegates are attending the South African National Aids Conference here.
Karrim's research has revealed that of the daily 14,000 new HIV infections worldwide, 600 are in South Africa. It has also been revealed that the average HIV positive baby will die before its fourth birthday, and could cost the government around 28,000 rand in medical bills before he or she dies.
The conference also heard that in some parts of the country, half of all pregnant women are infected with HIV. Infections in pregnant women were also found to be higher in some areas than in sex workers.
The conference has already plunged into controversy with the non-government Treatment Action Campaign(TAC) holding a protest march against the repeated failure of the government to provide anti-retroviral drugs for Aids-affected people.
The leader of the TAC, Zackie Achmat, has caused an uproar by declaring that the government's failure to act was tantamount to genocide and a crime against humanity.
More than 5 million people are infected with the disease and more than 600 people reportedly die every day from the pandemic.
Bureau Report