African Army Hastening HIV/AIDS Spread

Abstract

THE NUMBERS are mind-boggling. HIV rates in the armies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) and Angola are at least 50 percent. A Zimbabwean army spokesperson caused a stir last year when he said his military could have a 90 percent infection rate. As much as 40 percent of the South African military, widely acknowledged to be the best-trained and cared for in Africa, is HIV-infected, according to Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, the deputy defense minister.