Harare Women Hit Most By HIV/ Aids Within SADC Feb 20, 2002 (The Daily News/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) - - The United Nations says Zimbabwe has the highest number of women with the Aids virus in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region. The international organisation points out that Zimbabwe is among the countries in which 24 to 36 percent of their population between the ages of 15 and 49 are living with Aids. The UN says other countries with "relatively high rates of antenatal infections" are Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Lesotho. The international organisation also says Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe have the highest rates of HIV/Aids infection among the 25- 49 age group, the most active in the region's economic development and growth. In its latest Human Development Report 2000, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), says the reduction in the Sadc economic growth was attributed to the HIV/Aids pandemic. The report was released last week. "The widespread of HIV/Aids in this region and the extent to which it affects human development is a cause for major concern," the report said. "Although the scourge of HIV/Aids is affecting all the Sadc countries, its intensity and its ability to spread across boundaries through cross-border movements continue to threaten the region." At least 2 000 individuals are dying weekly in Zimbabwe because of the HIV/Aids pandemic. To try and alleviate the scourge, the former Minister of Finance, Dr Herbert Murerwa, introduced an Aids Levy, paid by all income earners. However, the intended beneficiaries, including the National Aids Council (NAC), have cried foul over the money, saying it is being abused. The UNDP said in 1999 Botswana had the highest adult HIV/Aids prevalence rate at 36,1 percent. It was followed by Zimbabwe at 24,3 percent and Lesotho at 24,1 percent. Zambia was next with 20,1 percent, while Tanzania had one of the lowest prevalence rates at 8 percent. "In spite of the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the prevalence there stood at 5,1 percent while Angola had 2,8 percent and Mauritius was the lowest at 0,1 percent," the UNDP report said. It attributes low prevalence in Mauritius to the isolation of the country out in the Indian Ocean and the efficiency of their health system. "While in both Angola and the DRC, the speculation is that the rates may be due to inability to access the right information because of the war," the report said. "Another useful indicator of the magnitude of the HIV/Aids phenomenon is the percentage of women who are attending antenatal clinics who are infected. "Zimbabwe leads in this category, followed by Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. "Other countries with relatively high rates of antenatal infections are Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Lesotho," the report says. "Again the DRC and Angola are listed as the countries with the lowest prevalence because of the war situation while Mauritius is rated zero. "There was no information of HIV/Aids prevalence in Swaziland in the period, a factor that was described by the World Bank as unfortunate." The UNDP said estimates indicated that the situation was worsening and life expectancy had dropped considerably because of the pandemic and it was expected that children born today would live 12 years less than those born in the 1960s and 1970s. The UNDP said estimates indicated that the situation was worsening and life expectancy had dropped considerably because of the pandemic and it was expected that children born today would live 12 years less than those born in the 1960s and 1970s. by Ngoni Chanakira KEYWORD: Southern Africa Author not available, HARARE WOMEN HIT MOST BY HIV/ AIDS WITHIN SADC. , Africa News Service, 02-20-2002.