On 1 December, we commemorate World AIDS Day. Globally, on this day we take a moment to acknowledge those who are living with HIV, and those we have lost to AIDS. All around the world, this day is also used to raise awareness of the devastating effects of the epidemic and to focus our efforts on the issues that require our attention. This year our focus is on young women in South Africa who are most vulnerable to HIV infection. We invite you to join us, the Human Sciences Research Council, in honouring and raising awareness on this important day. 

Our National Household HIV/AIDS and Health Survey conducted in 2008 highlighted some important risk factors impacting young women in South Africa. We found that:

• Only 13% of women were aware of their HIV status;
• Young women have an almost four times higher chance of getting infected than young men, 16.9% versus 4.4%;
• Young women who have sex with older partners (’sugar daddies’) stands a much greater chance of getting infected with HIV; 

If you are a young woman, what can you do to protect yourself?

• Get tested for HIV – know your status 
• Encourage men and women to make themselves available for early testing
• Continue to use condoms every time you have sex
• Decrease the number of sexual partners you have – this will reduce your risk of acquiring HIV
• Try to avoid having sex with much older sexual partners – if you do have sex, use either a female condom or a male condom.  

Kindly RSVP by 25 November 2011

Venues

Cape Town: HSRC, 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street, Cape Town. Contact Vuyokazi Ngxubaza, Tel (021) 4668004, Fax (021) 461 0299, orVNgxubaza@hsrc.ac.za, Cell: 082 0508453

Durban:  First floor HSRC board room, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor, Contact Ridhwaan Khan, Tel (031) 242 5400, cell: 083 788 2786 or RKhan@hsrc.ac.za

Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Arlene Grossberg, Tel: (012) 302 2811, e-mail:acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za