Shots - Health Blog Thu July 26, 2012 Amid An AIDS Epidemic,
South Africa Battles Another Foe: Tuberculosis Originally
published on Thu July 26, 2012 6:24 pm The province of KwaZulu-
Natal has emerged as the epicenter of South Africa's HIV
epidemic. South Africa already has more people infected with HIV
than any other country in the world, but parts of KwaZulu-Natal
have HIV rates that are more than twice the national average.
Now in addition to HIV and AIDS, the province is also dealing
with a major tuberculosis epidemic. In the northeastern part of
KwaZulu-Natal, dusty dirt tracks wind through pastures and
fields of sugar cane. The hillsides are dotted with small huts
made of cinder blocks and field stones. Bongiwe Buthelezi, 51,
is sitting on a straw mat on the floor of her two-room house,
getting tested for HIV. A counselor from Doctors without
Borders, Lindani Mngomezulu, has just pricked Buthelezi's finger
and put a few drops of blood on an HIV test strip. The team from
Doctors without Borders is going d