South Africa has only 0.7% of the world population, but is carrying 17% of the global HIV burden, and one out of every 100 South Africans has TB. Within South Africa, the province of KwaZulu-Natal has the highest HIV prevalence level of any province. In the rural areas where ACAT works, HIV prevalence (as measured by antenatal surveys) has shown up to 44%. (For more detail refer to a summary document from HIV and AIDS Provincial Strategy 2006 – 2010)

HIV is a major factor in our lives.

ACAT mainstreams HIV and AIDS initiative through its programmes of:

• Sustainable Agriculture which focuses on enabling families to produce their own food in a low cost, healthy and environmentally friendly manner;
• Entrepreneurial Development which assists families to generate additional income through small, viable, rural enterprises;
• Education and Training, which builds up the general and specific capacity of learners.

This mainstreaming includes:

• Creating an awareness and understanding of HIV and AIDS with a special focus on causes, symptoms, transmission, avoidance and stigma.
• Encouraging people to test early so that they can manage their health positively.
• Promoting, encouraging and offering an alternative lifestyle.
• Promoting, encouraging and facilitating Household Food Security – initially through vegetable gardens. ACAT encourages everyone – not just those who have tested positively – to establish a vegetable garden and to boost their immunity through good nutrition.
• Assisting people to generate additional income.
• Promoting Home Based Care by community volunteers.