Botswana

Associated staff and scholars: Jessica Lejowa, Moabi Mogorosi, Ndiyapo Machacha, Samson Lefika Setumo, Mpho Rabotsima, Ookeditse Phala, Boipelo Moagaesi, Kitso Masi, Ookeditse Phala, Tshiamo Petersen,

Botswana is a land-locked country in Southern Africa. It has a population of roughly 2-million. The country is rich in minerals, including diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore and silver. Botswana has one of the world’s highest known rates of HIV infection. According to Avert, an international AIDS charity, in 2005 there were an estimated 270 000 people living with HIV in Botswana. For more information, visit the official Botswana site.

Cameroon

Associated staff and scholars: Bernard Bongkisheri Wirsiy, Shella Ngefor, Nji Alain, Yvette Ngum,

Located on Africa`s west coast, the Republic of Cameroon is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south. The country is called “Africa in miniature” for its geological and cultural diversity. Compared to other African countries, Cameroon enjoys relatively high political and social stability. Nevertheless, large numbers of Cameroonians live in poverty. The HIV prevalence in Cameroon is estimated at between five and 12% of the population.

Germany

Associated staff and scholars: Alexander Ptok, Insa Kuschnerus, Maída Hernández Lara, Julius Lax, Sophia Ayissi, Eliana Schueler, Jonathan Dobrawa, Nele Frie, Miriam Behrendt, Clara Baumann,

Situated in Western and Central Europe, Germany is the most populated country in the European Union and home of the third-largest number of international migrants worlwide. The country has developed a very high standard of living and a comprehensive system of social security. It holds a key position in European affairs and maintains a multitude of close partnerships on a global level. Germany is recognised as a scientific and technological leader in several fields.

Although Germany’s HIV and AIDS percentage is still relatively low, at 0,09 %, it has been growing rapidly since 2000 from 45,000 to over 70,000 infected Germans in 2011.

Ghana

Associated staff and scholars: Adjetey Anang, Ebenezer Quarcoo,

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to gain its independence from colonial rule in 1957. Located on Africa’s west coast, Ghana is bordered by Togo to the east, the Ivory Coast to the west, with Burkina Faso on its northern border. The coastal country has rich natural resources, including gold, industrial diamonds, oil and silver. Approximately 3.1% of the nearly 23.5-million people in Ghana are living with HIV and AIDS.

Kenya

Associated staff and scholars: Christopher Odhiambo, Faith Koli-Matu,

Kenya lies on the equator on the east coast of Africa. Its major exports are coffee, tea and petroleum products. Kenya has a population of 28.8-million people, of which an estimated 1.2-million people are living with HIV and AIDS, according to the CIA World Factbook. For more information, visit the official Kenya website.

Lesotho

Associated staff and scholars: Kabelo Maqache, Khabi Morahanye, Selloane Mokuku, Teboho Rantsoabe, Ithateleng Itee Masilo-Sesinyi,

Lesotho, like Botswana, is a land-locked state and former British colony. Its natural resources include water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay and building stone. It has a population of 2.1-million, and an HIV infection rate of more than 20%. According to the AIDS charity Avert, the AIDS epidemic has caused average life expectancy in Lesotho to drop to 44 years for women and 39 for men. The Morija Arts Festival is held in Lesotho annually. For more information, visit the official Lesotho site.

Malawi

Associated staff and scholars: Basimenye Mwalwanda, Chisomo Mdalla, Thokozani Kapiri, Alinafe Sani-Chimwele,

Malawi is a subtropical country, neighbouring Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. The CIA Factbook says it has a population of almost 14-million people. Interact Worldwide, an international non-governmental organisation, estimates that there are roughly 1-million people living with HIV in Malawi. For more information, visit the official Malawi site.

Mozambique

Associated staff and scholars: Orlando Alberto Govo, Antonio Sarmento Manuel, Dactivo José Combane, Evaristo Abreu, Rogério Manjate,

Mozambique lies on the east coast of southern Africa, between South Africa and Tanzania. It has a population of over 21-million. It was once a Portugese colony but gained independence in 1975, which was followed by a long civil war. The CIA Factbook estimates that there are currently 1.3-million HIV-positive people living in Mozambique. For more information, visit the official Mozambique site (please note this site is in Portugese, the official language of Mozambique).

Namibia

Associated staff and scholars: Martha Amutenya,

The Republic of Namibia is located on the west coast of Southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Angola, Zambia and Botswana. Namibia’s natural resources include major deposits of minerals which account for a large proportion of the country’s GDP.

According to the CIA factbook, it has a population of just over 2-million, of which an estimated 210 000 (almost 10%) are infected with the HI virus.

Rwanda

Associated staff and scholars: Theogene Niwenshuti,

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a unitary republic of central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.1 million. It is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Rwanda’s economy suffered heavily during the 1994 Genocide, but has since strengthened. The country has few natural resources, and the economy is based mostly on subsistence agriculture. The quality of healthcare is generally low, but the government is attempting to prioritize this, having increased the health budget from 3.2% in 1996 to 9.7% in 2008. The Rwandan HIV and AIDS rate is estimated at 3%.

South Africa

Associated staff and scholars: Grace Meadows, Kabi Thulo, Kathy Barolsky, Thokozani Ndaba, Mpho Molepo, Warren Nebe, Kirsten Meyer, Hazel Barnes, Tamara Gordon, Modise Mogotsi, Candice Steele, Monica Newton, Tshepiso Konopi, Lerato Msiwa, Bongani Solomon Sihlangu, Pearl Mbolekwa, Cheraé Halley, Lonwabo Mavuso, Levinia Jones, Lesley Nkosi, Bongani Ntshingila, Pearl Mbolekwa, Faith Nonkululeko Busika, Butana “ Peter/Tosh” Molefe, Laura Kelly, Joe Teffo, Ntombi Nkuna,

In 1994 South Africa held its first democratic elections, after years of colonial rule and apartheid. Today, it is considered a powerhouse of Africa, economically and politically. The population is estimated at roughly 45-million people, with roughly 5.6-million people living with HIV in 2008, according to the Treatment Action Campaign. For more information, visit the official South Africa site.

Swaziland

Associated staff and scholars: Sizwe Ndlela,

The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordering Mozambique and South Africa. It has a population of just over 1.1-million, and it is estimated that over 220 000 people in the country are living with HIV and AIDS, and the adult HIV prevalence rate is 38.8%.

According to the CIA factbook, “Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world’s highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate”.

Tanzania

Associated staff and scholars: Kiswigu Bernard Mpyanga, Chahya Mtiro, Delphine Cosmas Njewele, John Mughobi Sagatti, Christa Dominic Komba,

In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania. The country, whose economy depends heavily on agriculture, has a population of 40-million. About 1.6-million are HIV-positive, according to the CIA Factbook. For more information, please visit the official Tanzania site.

Uganda

Associated staff and scholars: Allen Tush (Tushemereirwe-Naturinda), Ronald Ahirirwe Jr,

Landlocked Uganda has the Democratic Republic of the Congo on its western border, with Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, and Rwanda and Tanzania making up its southern border. Rich in copper and cobalt, Uganda is home to over 31-million people of which over half-a-million are infected with HIV and AIDS.

Zambia

Associated staff and scholars: Irene Katungu Maboshe, Mary Mutinta Manzole, Tutu Matilda Malamamfumu, Richard Mwanza, Phillip Kamphilikwe Kaluba, George C. Daka, Benne Erasto Banda, Chala Tumelo, Benne Erasto Banda,

Zambia, a country with considerable copper resources, gained its independence from Britain in 1964. Zambia’s population numbers almost 11.7-million people. According to the AIDS charity Avert, one in every six adults in Zambia is living with HIV and life expectancy at birth has fallen to just 42 years. For more information, visit the official Zambia site.

Zimbabwe

Associated staff and scholars: Munyaradzi Chatikobo, Kudakwashe Chitambire, Remo Chipatiso, Kennedy Chinyowa, Tendai Mutukwa, Gift Tapiwa Marovatsanga, Cletus Moyo, Clayton Mboneli Ndlovu, Bhekilizwe Ndlovu, Natasha Mazonde, Munyaradzi Chatikobo, Ruth Makumbirofa, Tonderai Cosmas Chiyindiko, Julia Yule, Sibongile Bhebe, Sibongile Bhebe, Sibongile Bhebe, Bhekilizwe Bernard Ndlovu,

Zimbabwe was once considered the “breadbasket of Africa”, but is now considered an area of crisis by the world community. The population is estimated at 12.3-million, and 1.8-million people are living with HIV, according to the CIA Factbook. For more information, visit the official Zimbabwe site.