SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS treatment initiative supports farm workers

JOHANNESBURG, 16 Mar 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - Between 30 percent and 45 percent of South African farm workers are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS, the National African Farmers' Union Summit heard earlier this week.

The Dutch agricultural attaché, Gretha Kostwinder, warned the gathering in the capital, Pretoria, that the high infection rate could have a major effect on the farming sector over the next few years.

According to local newspaper, Business Day, Kostwinder's forecasts were based on the results of Agri-AIDS, an HIV/AIDS awareness project that brings AIDS treatment to rural areas, as farm workers cannot always afford to travel to treatment centres.

At least 1,000 farm workers benefit from the Agri-AIDS treatment programme.

[ENDS]