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AIDS treatment initiative supports farm workers

    JOHANNESBURG

    Between 30 percent and 45 percent of South African farm workers are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS, the National African Farmers' Union Summit heard earlier this week.

    The Dutch agricultural attaché, Gretha Kostwinder, warned the gathering in the capital, Pretoria, that the high infection rate could have a major effect on the farming sector over the next few years.

    According to local newspaper, Business Day, Kostwinder's forecasts were based on the results of Agri-AIDS, an HIV/AIDS awareness project that brings AIDS treatment to rural areas, as farm workers cannot always afford to travel to treatment centres.

    At least 1,000 farm workers benefit from the Agri-AIDS treatment programme.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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