Oxfam Ireland Core Country: South Africa
Country Statistics
| Population: | 44 million |
| Year of Independence: | 1910; became a republic in 1961 |
| Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births): | 59.4 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | 42.5 years |
| People living with HIV/AIDS: | 21.5% / 5.3 million (2003 est.) |
| Literacy (people aged 15 and over that are literate): | 86.4% (2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 50% (2000 est.) |
| Currency: | Rand |
Oxfam in South Africa:
HIV and AIDS is one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa. According to UNAIDS, some 5.5 million people, including 240,000 children (less than 15 years if age), are infected with the virus (end of 2005 estimation). Oxfam Ireland participates in the Joint Oxfam HIV and AIDS Programme (JOHAP) in South Africa. The programme is managed by Oxfam Australia and funded by Oxfam Ireland, Oxfam Novib, Oxfam Germany, Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam Australia.
The programme seeks to strengthen civil society's response to HIV and AIDS by supporting integrated community-based services for HIV prevention and care. Gender and sexuality, and the rights of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, are a programme focus. JOHAP involves more than 25 partner organisations that deliver projects in the provinces of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal and is now in the process of expanding to the Eastern Cape province.
Our partners in South Africa
The Centre for Positive Care
Community based coordinators forming CPC letters
The Centre for Positive Care supports community-based projects that aim to mitigate the effects of HIV and AIDS. The centre supports peer education programmes where peer educators use dance and song to promote awareness about HIV and AIDS. The centre also provides home-based care to people living with HIV and AIDS. Their model of integrating prevention and of including men has been well documented.
For more information on this organisation's work please download the case study
Targeted AIDS Interventions
Actively involving young men in HIV education and prevention helps reduce the spread of HIV and violence against women. Targeted AIDS Inventions (TAI) works with young men to influence their attitudes and behaviour in relation to sexual practices and the treatment of women. TAI uses soccer programs to train young men as 'peer educators' to educate their friends about issues around HIV and AIDS and sexuality.
For more information on this organisation's work please download the case study
Lawyers for Human Rights
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is an organisation that seeks out and helps grandparents who are now caring for orphaned and HIV+ grandchildren. One way of helping them is ensuring that they get the assistance they need from the relevant South African government bodies. Two of these grandparents were the grandmothers or 'gogos' Lucy Zuma and Regina Msimango.
For more information on this organisation's work please download the case study
Making a Difference
€27 / £18 can provide a herb garden.
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