People Living with HIV

Buttressing community systems by empowering its key actors and capacitating local support structures is crucial for a viable and balanced national response that looks beyond the traditional biomedical paradigm. Having the focus of a project at the community level also builds in an accountability factor. Unlike donor-driven initiatives conceived, executed and fully funded from above, if a community- based project is not perceived as useful by local people, they simply will not participate in the effort or provide the support needed for the project to continue operating.

PV’s main area of responses falls under the inclusive sphere of what is now called Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention, which includes prevention, treatment and care. Communities have meaningful and effective roles in all facets of PHDP. Local initiatives seem to be particularly effective in mitigating some of the stigma and discrimination associated with the epidemic because they tend to work within communities as opposed to being outside interventions aimed at community target groups.

Mitigate the local-level impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic;
Push back stigma and discrimination;
Stimulate local voice;
Enhance community agency through strengthening community systems;
and encourage horizontal learning and extension.

REGIONAL HIV STATISTICS—2016

Eastern and southern Africa

▪ In 2016, there were 19.4 million `{`17.8 million–21.1 million`}` people living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa.
- Women and girls account for more than half `{`59%`}` of the total number of people living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa.
▪ Eastern and southern Africa accounts for 43% of the global total of new HIV infections.
▪ In 2016, there were an estimated 790 000 `{`710 000–870 000`}` new HIV infections in eastern and southern Africa.
- New HIV infections declined by 29% between 2010 and 2016.
▪ In eastern and southern Africa, 420 000 `{`350 000–510 000`}` people died of AIDSrelated illnesses in 2016.
- Between 2010 and 2016, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region fell by 42%.
▪ In eastern and southern Africa, 11.7 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, 60% `{`48–68%`}` of all people living with HIV in the region in 2016.
- 67% `{`54–76%`}` of adult women (aged 15 years and over) and 51% `{`41–58%`}` of adult men were accessing antiretroviral therapy in eastern and southern Africa in 2016.
- Six out of 10 people on antiretroviral therapy live in eastern and southern Africa.
▪ There were 77 000 `{`52 000–110 000`}` new HIV infections among children in eastern and southern Africa in 2016.
- Since 2010, there has been a 56% decline in new HIV infections among children in the region.

Western and central Africa

▪ In 2016, there were 6.1 million `{`4.9 million–7.6 million`}` people living with HIV in western and central Africa.
- Women account for 56% of the total number of people living with HIV in the region.
▪ In 2016, there were an estimated 370 000 `{`270 000–490 000`}` new HIV infections in western and central Africa.
- New HIV infections declined by 9% between 2010 and 2016.
▪ In western and central Africa, 310 000 `{`220 000–400 000`}` people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2016.
- Between 2010 and 2016, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region fell by 21%.
▪ In 2016, in western and central Africa, 2.1 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, 35% `{`24–44%`}` of all people living with HIV in the region.
▪ There were 60 000 `{`35 000–89 000`}` new HIV infections among children in western and central Africa in 2016.
- Since 2010, there has been a 33% decline in new HIV infections among children in the region.

Middle East and North Africa

▪ In 2016, there were 230 000 `{`160 000–380 000`}` people living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa.
▪ In 2016, there were an estimated 18 000 `{`11 000–39 000`}` new HIV infections in the region.
- New HIV infections fell by 4% between 2010 and 2016.
▪ In the Middle East and North Africa, 11 000 `{`7700–19 000`}` people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2016.
- Between 2010 and 2016, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region increased by 19%.
▪ Treatment coverage in 2016 was just 24% `{`15–41%`}` among people living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa.
▪ There were 1400 `{`<1000–3300`}` new HIV infections among children in the Middle East and North Africa in 2016.
(UN AIDS)

Positive Vibes has worked with communities, individuals and marginalised groups in rural Namibia to strengthen their capacity, resources, will and agency to take social action to respond to the HIV pandemic and support APLHIV. Mainly at village level, people living with and affected by HIV have, in many instances, organized themselves into self-help groups. The groups that Positive Vibes has worked with are in the main people living with HIV banding together for mutual support; groups of concerned and committed community members seeking to alleviate the challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children, or mixtures, in various forms, of both of these. Self-help groups are not charity or simply community based groups. They are made of and controlled by the people affected.
Many groups have a range of similar activities covering health, income generation, peer counselling and support, home-based care, and community outreach and cultural activities. Moreover, there are a significant number of groups who are undertaking some kind of support work with APLHIV (aka OVCs).