Share & more
At least 336,000 South Africans died of AIDS-related illnesses in the past year, members of Parliament's science and technology portfolio committee learned on Tuesday.
During a briefing on his organisation's research, president of the Medical Research Council (MRC), Tony Mbewu, described South Africa's AIDS epidemic as disproportionately affecting young women. According to MRC figures, about 25 percent of women aged 20-24 were infected, compared to about 10 percent of men in the same age group.
In the 15-19 age group, eight percent of women were infected, compared to less than one percent of men.
"This is rather different from the epidemic worldwide," he told MPs.
Getting a true picture of South Africa's AIDS burden has been complicated by the reluctance of many doctors to certify AIDS as the cause of death. Mbewu said this was due to "the very powerful stigma associated with HIV in this country."
About half the MRC's R320 million (about US$45 million) government budget and a third of its scientists are devoted to HIV and AIDS research.
"The MRC takes this deadly epidemic very seriously," he said.
"Not only is it causing untold death and suffering to South Africans, it also threatens to reverse many of the developmental gains we have made, particularly since 1994."
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