Access to clean water crucial in fight against AIDS

Abstract

HIV/AIDS & WATER Where water services are inadequate or inaccessible, the time and monetary costs of accessing clean water in sufficient quantities are high, particularly for HIV-infected people and their caregivers. Access to affordable, accessible and reliable water and sanitation is crucial for people living with HIV/AIDS, and for providing home-based care. Water is needed for taking antiretroviral (ARV) medication, bathing patients, washing soiled clothing and linen; and for essential hygiene, which reduces exposure to infections. On the other hand, toilets are needed nearby for weak patients. WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND? Jeppe’s Reef is a peri-urban settlement in the west of the Nkomazi local municipal area in Mpumalanga. It is situated in the fertile Nkomazi valley, in close proximity to the Mozambique and Swaziland borders. According to the 2001 Census, there are about 5 200 households in Jeppe’s Reef, with an average six members per household. The majority of the population is aged between 15 and 24 years.

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