HIV/AIDS, the leading cause of death in Africa, disproportionately affects African women. South African women in particular are among the highest risk groups in the world. Statistics indicate that between 23 and 33 percent of pregnant women in South Africa carry the virus. The high rate of infection among mother’s results 70,000 South African babies born annually infected with HIV/AIDS. Although clinical trials have shown that the drug AZT administered during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission, the treatment remains widely unavailable to poor women who cannot afford its high price tag. The World Bank AIDS Trust Fund recently announced grants for AIDS prevention, care, and education available to countries hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
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