The scourge of HIV has worst hit women and children in Africa, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. About 11 million African children alive at the end of 2001 had lost one or both parents to Aids.

According to UNAIDS, in South Africa, an estimated 660 000 children have been orphaned by Aids. Women account for the majority of persons living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa - young women in particular (aged 15-29) have been found to have higher prevalence rates than men in the same age group.

The low status of women in many societies and relationships, make it difficult for them to protect themselves in sexual relationships and are further have to bear the brunt of feeding the family and then caring for the infected.

Poverty aggravates lack of access to education and health services and other economic resources; migrant labour and the break down of traditional family values. In many communities, women have a key role in ensuring economic security for their families. But unequal gender relations and unequal access to economic resources have made women poorer than men (source UNAIDS.org)