HIV is a serious problem in South Africa. Around 19% of our people aged 15-49 are HIV+. That's almost 1 in 5! And most people with HIV don’t know it.

How HIV spreads

HIV lives in and spreads through bodily fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. If those fluids from an HIV+ person get into your body, you can get HIV. You CANNOT get infected from: kissing, sharing plates and cutlery, toilet seats, sneezing, tears, mosquitoes.

How HIV works

HIV stops the immune system from working properly by breaking it down, which makes it easier to get sick. If you have HIV you can control it and stop it progressing to AIDS by living healthily and by taking ARVs (HIV medication) as soon as you need to.