Today there are 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS. An estimated 2 million people died from AIDS in 2008. Of those 2 million, 35,000 babies and 330,000 others died prematurely of AIDS in South Africa due the government’s delay in providing treatment.

Today, however, strides have been made by South African President, Jacob Zuma, to alleviate those without access to treatment in South Africa. In conjunction with WORLD AIDS Day, President Zuma announced today in a national address that the drug therapy reach for HIV positive pregnant woman and babies would widen. As South Africa has more people infected with AIDS than any other country (5.7 million), these initiatives mark a major step in the right direction for South Africa and the overall fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Kona AfricaBike has aided hundreds of HIV/AIDS healthcare workers in South Africa to help treat patients in rural areas since the inception of the program in 2006. Since then, we have donated more than 2,500 AfricaBikes to more than  10 countries in Africa – including more than 600 this year. With hopes of having the opportunity to contribute hundreds more in 2010, we aspire to continue to assist in expediting the healing/distribution process for HIV/AIDS patients throughout Africa.