Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 43 473 796 on Thursday September 27 2001
Farewell princess: Hundreds of Capetonians last Saturday bade farewell to five-year-old Sibongile Mazeka, who died of an Aids-related illness. Sibongile’s last wish was to have a huge birthday party, and she lived long enough to see it come true. She was diagnosed with Aids when she was two. Mourners paid tribute to “the Princess of Guguletu”, saying she brought hope to the community.
Hamba Kahle mama: Aids activist Emily Khwili Mabote died on Tuesday. Mabote was the first person on the West Rand to publicly announce that she was HIV-positive. She was born in Kagiso where she established the Emily Jordan Aids Centre with donations from the United States.
Poverty’s the cause: The absence of widespread developmental programmes aimed at eradicating poverty continues to thwart the effort to fight HIV/Aids, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said in his address to the provincial legislature this week where he presented Gauteng’s annual Aids report. “Without larger developmental programmes to combat poverty, the world will never overcome the scourge of this pandemic.”
Gauteng will spend R70-million to fight the epidemic over the next year.