A Two-Wheeled Campaign Against AIDS in Africa

The Mapilelo Project, begun in 2003, works to reduce HIV infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and CDC, the project pairs "buddies" with up to three newly diagnosed people. The volunteers provide social support and help patients stick with their antiretroviral regimens. BikeTown Africa, an international campaign to improve home delivery of HIV/AIDS services in rural Africa, offers assistance to communities in Namibia and Senegal. The initiative is organized by Bicycling magazine and Canada's Kona bike company, which donated 150 custom-designed bikes to the Mapilelo Project so buddies can "double or triple the number of client visits per day," said Zengani Chirwa, chief medical officer of Mapilelo.

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