Abstract
In South Africa, HIV infection rates have increased from an average of less than one percent among pregnant women in antenatal clinics in 1990 to 29% in 2006 and 30.2% in 2011. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), about 5.7 million or 17% of all South Africans are now HIV-infected. The Government of South Africa (SAG) responded to the HIV epidemic by developing a National Strategic Plan 2007-2011 (NSP). One of the two primary aims of this NSP was to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on individuals, families, communities, and society by expanding access to an appropriate package of treatment, care, and support to 80% of all people diagnosed with HIV. An evaluation of the Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA) project was conducted in South Africa between September 7th and October 26th to: (1) document the degree to which the USAID-funded palliative care interventions were successful; (2) identify best practices, suggest improvements; and (3) provide recommendations for follow-on interventions. (Excerpt, modified)