Sub-Saharan Africa: 23.5 million people are living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). 1.8 million people become newly infected each year, mainly through heterosexual sex. The virus attacks and destroys the immune system. Untreated, HIV develops into AIDS and each year 1.2 million people die. There is no cure. Although anti-retroviral drugs slow down the progression of HIV to AIDS, only 6.2 million people have access to them. Prevention of infection is therefore an urgent priority.

HIV spreads in Africa mainly because of ignorance, poverty and gender inequality. ACET (AIDS Care Education and Training) trains church and community leaders to run their own culturally relevant HIV education programmes for young people and vulnerable adults in their communities. Key aspects include providing the facts about HIV transmission and lifeskills training to enable them to make wise and healthy choices about sex and relationships which minimise the risk of HIV infection.