Aids-related deaths in South Africa: 1 954 206 at noon on November 8 2006
Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 1 947 583 at noon on November 1 2006
The government of Sierra Leone is faced with the challenge of stigma attached to HIV/Aids, which is derailing its efforts to supply antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to its targeted number of people living with the virus by the end of the year.
The government wants to supply at least 2 000 of the Aids population in the country.
The results of a national survey this year showed that about 1,5% of the country’s five million people are living with HIV. Of these, only 1 178 people are receiving ARVs at public health facilities.
Stigma and fear are blamed for hampering people from voluntary testing for HIV, although all district hospitals and multiple sites in the capital, Freetown, provide the tests free of charge.
Source: www.aegis.org