1.1 INTRODUCTION There 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 taken more lives than the sum total of all the wars, famines, floods and devastation caused by deadly diseases such as malaria. It is destroying families in my community, overwhelming and impoverishing 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 estimated the current state of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in society. As the world has entered its third decade with high HIV prevalence rates in many countries and the likelihood of an effective vaccine, or even widespread accessibility to therapeutic drugs, still at a low, it is likely that many more millions of people die from the HIV and AIDS pandemic than have died in recent years. This fact, together with increasing pressure on health infrastructure and insufficient institutional support for social services, means that poor communities like Qumbu are likely to be placed under enormous strain as they attempt to cope with the consequences of AIDS morbidity and mortality, for not to mention the burden future generations will most likely have to bear in dealing with the pandemic. Without excluding psychological and social tensions, the increase in HIV infections and AIDS deaths among adults in their prime has implications for the public financing of services for the elderly population, from health care to pensions to welfare. The death of adults in their prime experiences the next generation struggling to cope, as they are left without the necessary knowledge for a...... middle of paper ...... for their admission to institutions or hospitals . However, this has led to increased demand for already scarce resources in my poor communities. The most obvious impact on communities is the increased burden posed by both young and old due to AIDS deaths. HIV and AIDS have undermined the obligation that holds parents responsible for their children and expects children to return the favor as their parents grow older. Those left behind often not only suffer from HIV and AIDS, but may become infected with the virus. In such a situation, the community is expected to intervene and "adopt" the young and elderly by entrusting them to their care. The growing burden of care in my community as even productive members, even those who earn their bread in the community, are dying and leaving young and old behind, is often borne by the women of society. (Fourie and Meyer, 2010)