1.1 INTRODUCTIONThere is no doubt that the HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating influence on Africa, especially in my community of Qumbu. The AIDS epidemic has claimed more lives than the sum total of all wars, famines and floods, as well as the ravages of deadly diseases like malaria. This is destroying families in my community, overwhelming and exhausting health services. The influence of the AIDS epidemic in my community is significant and ways should be developed to reduce its effects. (Abdool Karim and Abdool Karim 2010)1.2 HIV AND AIDS IN MY COMMUNITY A few years ago, many would not have appreciated the current state of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in society. As the world has entered a third decade with high HIV prevalence rates in many countries and the likelihood of an effective vaccine, or even widespread access to therapeutic drugs, still at an all-time low, millions of more people are at risk of dying from the HIV and AIDS pandemic. have died in recent years. This, coupled with increasing pressure on health infrastructure and insufficient institutional support for social services, means that poor communities such as Qumbu risk being put under enormous pressure as they try to cope with the consequences of AIDS morbidity and mortality, not to mention the burden. It is most likely future generations who will have to deal with the pandemic. While not excluding psychological and social strain, the increase in HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths among adults in the prime of life has implications for public funding of services for the elderly population, from child care health to pensions and social assistance. The death of adults in the prime of life experiences the next generation struggling to cope, as they find themselves without the knowledge required for middle of paper ...... their admission to institutions or hospitals . Although this has led to an increase in demand for already scarce remedies in my poor communities. The most visible impact on communities is the increased burden of AIDS deaths on young people and the elderly. HIV and AIDS have undermined the obligation that holds parents responsible for their children and expects children to reciprocate when their parents age. Those who are left behind are often not only affected by HIV and AIDS, but also at risk of being infected by the virus. In such a situation, the community is expected to step in and “adopt” the young and old into its care. The growing burden of care in my community, as productive members and breadwinners of the community die and leave behind the young and elderly, is often borne by female members of society. (Fourie and Meyer, 2010)