|  AIDS stands for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" or "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" and denotes a condition, which results from the damage done by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) to the immune system. The condition was first identified in 1981 and the name "AIDS" was first introduced on July 27, 1982.
HIV can only be transmitted between people through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood stream with a bodily fluid. Hence, there has been a lot of stigma around the spread of HIV and people living with HIV and AIDS. It has been estimated that around 33 million people around the world have been infected with HIV and that around two million people die from AIDS related conditions each year.
 South Africa is experiencing the largest HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world. Figures for 2008 state that an estimated 5.6 million South Africans are HIV positive, the largest number of any country in the world. The infection rate is growing at approximately 2000 people per day.
Almost 25% of all South African children under the age of 15 have lost at least one parent to AIDS. The province of KwaZulu Natal, where Project Gateway is situated, carries the heaviest burden with the most children and adults affected by HIV/AIDS. A total of 1.6 million people (16% of the population) and nearly a third of all adults were estimated to be HIV positive in 2008.
KwaZulu Natal statistics for HIV/AIDS in 2008:
Whole population 16%
Antenatal clinic estimate 40%
Adults (ages 20 - 64) 28%
People living with HIV 1,561,000
New HIV infections(over the year) 134,000
AIDS deaths(over the year) 115,000
Total people in need of ART (mid year) 297,000
Total people accessing ART (mid year) 127,000
Accumulated AIDS deaths 849,000
New infections per day 366
New deaths per day 316
Project Gateway's Ethembeni Project seeks to provide an environment providing care and support to vulnerable adults and children with health related needs in order to strengthen their resilience and contribute towards their holistic development.
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