People who carry the heaviest burden as a result of HIV and AIDS are the poor. AIDS increases poverty and families are the first to feel the economic effects of having members of the family who have HIV and/or AIDS. Families lose income if the breadwinner falls sick and is unable to continue working. Often another family member stays at home to look after the sick person and further income is lost. Families also face increased costs, as they have to spend money on caring for the sick or on funeral expenses when the person dies.

Government spending is affected since more and more of the taxes are spent on health care and welfare. Our social welfare system may not be able to cope with the number of orphans who need grants.

In addition, very poor people usually cannot afford the basic requirements for a healthy lifestyle – such as healthy food, a clean environment and clean water. They also cannot afford the costs of accessing basic health care services such as transport to clinics or hospitals. It is difficult for poor people to cope with the effects of HIV and to maintain a good treatment adherence regime.

Most of the people who are dying are between the ages of 25 and 44 – an age when most people are workers and parents. This has serious consequences for our economy and the development of the country.