In Algeria, the WHO World Health Report (2004) indicates an adult mortality⁸ rate per 1000 population of 170 for males and 128 for females. Life expectancy for males is 67.5; for females 71.2. Healthy life expectancy is 59.7 for males; 61.6 for females.⁹

HIV/AIDS is a huge burden for sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout the region in 2003, an estimated 23-27 million people were thought to be living with the disease which also caused up to 2.5 million deaths. This represents a huge loss and impacts significantly on health systems and social and family structures.

Algeria is a country in Northern Africa that has been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Estimates suggest that in Algeria, approximately 0.1% of the population were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2003.

UNAIDS reports:

UNAIDS supports the national response to HIV/AIDS in Algeria through the UN Theme Group, composed of the UNAIDS Cosponsors present in the country, and through the Expanded Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, which also includes other international partners, national and NGO representatives. These efforts are supported by a recently established Technical Working Group, comprising the HIV/AIDS Focal Points of Cosponsors, government representatives, NGOs, and other partners. The Theme Group on HIV/AIDS has promoted a multisectoral response to the epidemic, actively supporting the development of sectoral plans, awareness raising, efforts towards the establishment of second-generation surveillance, and resource mobilization. The Theme Group will develop the UN Joint Action Plan on HIV/AIDS as part of collective support to the national strategic plan on HIV/AIDS. The UNAIDS Focal Point is assisting Theme Group efforts aiming to coordinate and enhance support to the national HIV/AIDS response. This also includes technical support to national partners, NGOs and international agencies on different priority areas of the response. UNAIDS, through Programme Acceleration Funds and other means, has supported the development of the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS 2002-2006 at both national and sectoral levels. Other activities include strengthening NGOs' capacity, building partnership with religious leaders, as well as initiating innovative HIV/AIDS prevention activities among police forces and prisoners

HIV prevalence remains low in Algeria, but the existence of risk behaviours among vulnerable groups, diversity in prevalence rates across regions and other determinants requires immediate action to prevent further spread of the epidemic. Existing information, though limited, indicates a prevalence of 0.1% among the general population, with higher rates in the south of the country.

The national serosurveillance survey implemented in five sites in 2000 yielded 1% prevalence among pregnant women in the southern most part of the country, and 20% among sex workers in two sites ( Oran and Tamanrasset). These rates, coupled with the socio-economic environment, mobility and a high level of unemployment, may serve to drive the epidemic in a country where young people represent 70% of its 30 million total population, and where HIV transmission is mainly through heterosexual contacts. Since 2001, the level of political commitment to fight HIV/AIDS has increased substantially, in particular following the commitment expressed by the President of Algeria during the Abuja Summit. An HIV/AIDS project proposal of Algeria was approved by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM), providing US$ 10 million for a three-year period to support the implemention of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services, as well as strengthening capacities of public and civil society organizations.¹⁰