HIV becomes your name

According to 2004 data from UNAIDS, of the estimated 40 million people infected world-wide with HIV and AIDS, 25-28 million reside in sub-Saharan African countries. Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, remains by far the region worst affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic; it has just over 10% of the world’s population but is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV. In 2004 an estimated 3.1 million people in the region became newly infected, while 2.3 million died of AIDS.  Among young people aged 15-24 years, young women and girls now constitute 75% of all those living with HIV/AIDS in that age group. Adult infection rates of almost 40% have been reported in some countries of Southern Africa. This is reflected in the pattern of the epidemic in the UK, which has strong historical links to this region.

In 2003, in the UK, there were 2624 new diagnoses of HIV infection in heterosexuals probably infected in sub-Saharan Africa. This accounts for 69% of all heterosexuals’ diagnoses in 2003. Women outnumbered men among heterosexuals diagnosed with HIV in 2003, with 65% of new diagnoses being in women.

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