The AIDS Pandemic in Africa
The United Nations’ Aids agency, UNAIDS, reported that in 2001 sub-Saharan Africa was the most afflicted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic of any region in the world. UNAIDS statistics include:
- A total of 28.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa infected with HIV/AIDS.
- In 2001, 3.5 million new cases of infection in the region.
- Some 2.2 million Africans died of AIDS in 2001.
- 11 million African children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
- Women and girls constitute 58 percent of those infected.
- At least 10 percent of the population ages 15 to 49 infected in 12 African countries.
- More than 20 percent of the population ages 15 to 49 infected in seven countries, all in southern Africa: Botswana (38.8 percent), Lesotho (31 percent), Namibia (22.5), South Africa (20.1 percent), Swaziland (33.4 percent), Zambia (21.5 percent) and Zimbabwe (33.7 percent).