14,000 Africans die every day from AIDS (equals 583 deaths every hour).

AIDS has been declared a major national emergency by 20 countries in Africa. It is the number one cause of death in most countries on the continent, surpassing Malaria. Five million Africans are infected every year and 25 million have died to date.

There are 14 million African AIDS orphans. Only a few of these orphans have anyone to care for them and send them to school. An entire generation of Africans is at risk of AIDS. Africa has 10% of the world's population and 70% of worldwide AIDS infections.

The economic impact of AIDS in the poor countries of Africa is devastating and comes at a time when they are struggling with national debts. These poor countries can not afford the cost of treating AIDS. If this disease is to be arrested, the current piecemeal efforts of most governments must be replaced with large intervention projects in areas where most have not been diagnosed and few have been treated.

The U.S. Census Bureau states that at the current rate of infection, HIV/AIDS will change the demographics of African countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Niger, Cote d' Ivorie, and Cameroon by decreasing the life expectancy from 60 to 39 years.

65 percent of new AIDS infections occur in populations under the age of 30. At first, it was unapparent that Africa was losing its young teachers and professionals. African Health Crisis Intervention Project's answer to this loss is to train caseworkers and locate them in areas where they are needed the most.

For more information about the AIDS toll please connect to these websites:

• Death Stalks a Continent was published in Time Magazine early in 2001
• The Agony of Africa is a Pulitzer Prize winning series of essays on the devastating effects of this plague on the people of Africa.

The numbers below reveal the challenges faced by the people of Africa and those who face the task of helping them through this crisis:

Country	Population	Life Expectancy	Per Capita Income	HIV Infection Rate	Infant Mortality Rate
Angola	12.5 million	47 years	$260	2.78%	123 per 1000
Botswana	1.6 million	47 years	$3,310	35.8%	60 per 1000
CAR*	3.5 million	44 years	$290	13.84%	98.4 per 1000
Cameroon	14.7 million	56 years	$580	7.73%	72 per 1000
Cote d'Ivoire	14.5 million	47 years	$710	10.96%	96 per 1000
Kenya	29.4 million	51 years	$360	13.95%	76.6 per 1000
Lesotho	2.1 million	55 years	$550	23.57%	92 per 1000
Liberia	2.9 million	48 years	unknown	2.8%	96 per 1000
Malawi	10.8 million	42 years	$190	15.96%	134 per 1000
Namibia	1.7 million	54 years	$1,890	19.54%	68 per 1000
Nigeria	12.5 million	53 years	$310	5.06%	80 per 1000
Sierra Leone	4.7 million	38 years	$160	2.99%	161 per 1000
South Africa	40 million	54 years	$3,210	19.94%	60 per 1000
Zimbabwe	11.5 million	44 years	$720	25.06%	69 per 1000

Source: World Development Indicators, July 2000; UN Country Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV/AIDS
*Central African Republic