SOUTH AFRICA: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital reports 24,000 deaths

More than 24,000 people have already died of AIDS-related diseases at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital since 1998, hospital officials announced on Monday.

The 'Sowetan' newspaper reported that the mortality rate at the hospital had more than doubled over the past decade, with a recorded increase from six to 15 percent. Dr Alan Karstaedt, head of the hospital's HIV clinic, and Dr Nelesh Govender were reported as saying that HIV/AIDS had been the greatest contributor to the increased number of deaths at the hospital. Karstaedt said 43 percent of current deaths resulted from HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. This year 5,821 people had already died of AIDS-related illnesses, the report said.

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