HIV is one of the most widely talked about illnesses in history and has become a pandemic of massive proportions particularly in Southern Africa. There are many untrue stories about AIDS and this causes people who are living with the disease to live with fear, prejudice and discrimination. People must understand what HIV and AIDS are and how to prevent the disease from spreading but it is also important that we look at ways of undoing the prejudice that has built up around the disease. South Africa is still experiencing the largest HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world.

TB is a serious public health issue in South Africa, with about 450 000 people developing the disease every year, and of these, 270 000 are also living with HIV which is a key factor in the TB epidemic. HIV sufferers have a higher risk of contracting TB and are therefore at greater risk.