Southern Time Foundation – There is Hope

Ending Health, Social, and Environmental Concerns

Our Work Donate Now

Mission Statement

To support the global drive to end AIDS by decreasing HIV stigma, providing medical interventions, and giving women, girls, and key populations specialized and individualized support.

50m

Donation Done

PHAs at Risk

Team Member

Lives Saved

Objectives

Carry out research within indigenous communities in Canada on HIV/AIDS prevalence.
Identify the root cause of high prevalence of HIV/AIDS within communities.
Provide innovative solutions capable reducing the prevalence rates over time.
Provide media awareness to reduce marginalization and disenfranchisement of key populations and all people living with HIV.
Promote economic support and empowerment of women, girls, and key populations.
To create a platform where people living with HIV can interact within a safe space, share their lived experiences, and access support.
Provide access to free and vetted medical advice, counselling, social services and P2P support for members of the Southern Time Foundation community.

About Us

Why STF?

Southern Time Foundation was incorporated by Timothy Bartsch in 2020 after living with HIV since 1996 and nearly dying from AIDS in 2009. Tim spent six months in the hospital recovering from AIDS. And though his immune system is healthy now, he has since sustained lower spinal cord damage due to his time with AIDS.

Tim is now happily married to an HIV-negative wife, and they have a healthy HIV-negative son. He wishes that nobody ever dies from AIDS again or experiences HIV stigma and lack of life opportunities like he did because of his HIV status. And, beyond HIV, Tim has made it his life mission since testing HIV positive so that inequity or disvaluing of anyone never happens in our world.

Southern Time Foundation will also address a still-to-be-fully met area that many current HIV service organizations do not adequately meet – women and girls and HIV-positive key populations.

Global HIV statistics

– 39 million [33.1 million–45.7 million] people globally were living with HIV in 2022
– 3 million [1 million–1.7 million] people became newly infected with HIV in 2022.
– 630 000 [480 000–880 000] people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2022.
– 8 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy in 2022.
– 6 million [64.8 million–113.0 million] people have become infected with HIV and 40.4 million [32.9 million–51.3 million] people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.

(a) In 2022, there were 39 million [33.1 million–45.7 million] people living with HIV.
- – 5 million [31.8 million–43.6 million] adults (15 years or older).
- – 5 million [1.2 million–2.1 million] children (0–14 years).
- – 53% of all people living with HIV were women and girls.
(b) 86% [73– >98%] of all people living with HIV knew their HIV status in 2022.

(a) At the end of December 2022, 29.8 million people (76% [65–89%] of all people living with HIV) were accessing antiretroviral therapy, up from 7.7 million in 2010.
- – 77% [65–90%] of adults aged 15 years and older had access to treatment; however, just 57% [44–78%] of children aged 0–14 years had access.
- – 82% [69–95%] of women aged 15 years and older had access to treatment; however, just 72% [60–84%] of men aged 15 years and older had access.
- – 82% [64–98%] of pregnant women living with HIV had access to antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of HIV to their child in 2022.
(b) 2 million people living with HIV did not have access to antiretroviral treatment in 2022.

(a) New HIV infections have been reduced by 59% since the peak in 1995.
- – In 2022, 1.3 million [1 million–1.7 million] people were newly infected with HIV, compared to 3.2 million [2.5 million–4.3 million] people in 1995.
- – Women and girls accounted for 46% of all new infections in 2022.
(b) Since 2010, new HIV infections have declined by 38%, from 2.1 million [1.6 million–2.8 million] to 1.3 million [1 million–1.7 million] in 2022.
(c) Since 2010, new HIV infections among children have declined by 58%, from 310 000 [210 000–490 000] in 2010 to 130 000 [90 000–210 000] in 2022.

– AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 69% since the peak in 2004 and by 51% since 2010.
– In 2022, around 630 000 [480 000–880 000] people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide, compared to 2.0 million [1.5 million–2.8 million] people in 2004 and 1.3 million [970 000–1.8 million] people in 2010.
– AIDS-related mortality has declined by 55% among women and girls and by 47% among men and boys since 2010.

– Globally 46% of all new HIV infections were among women and girls in 2022.
– In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women accounted for more than 77% of new infections among young people aged 15-24 years in 2022.
– In sub-Saharan Africa adolescent girls and young women (aged 15-24 years) in were more than three times as likely to acquire HIV than their male peers in 2022. 
– Every week, 4000 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years became infected with HIV globally in 2022. 3100 of these infections occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
– Only about 42% of districts with high HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa had dedicated HIV prevention programmes for adolescent girls and young women in 2021.

Globally, median HIV prevalence among the adult population (ages 15-49) was 0.7%. However median prevalence was higher among key populations:
- – 5% among sex workers
- – 5% among gay men and other men who have sex with men
- – 0% among people who inject drugs
- – 3% among transgender persons
- – 4% among people in prisons.

– In 2022, 86% [73– >98%] of all people living with HIV knew their HIV status. Among people who knew their status, 89% [75– >98%] were accessing treatment. And among people accessing treatment, 93% [79– >98%] were virally suppressed.
– Among all people living with HIV, 86% [73– >98%] knew their status, 76% [65–89%] were accessing treatment and 71% [60–83%] were virally suppressed in 2022.
– Five countries— Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zimbabwe had achieved the 95-95-95 targets by 2022.

Meet The Team

Our Team Mates With Good History

Tim Bartsch

CEO

Timothy Bartsch tested HIV positive in 1996 and nearly died from AIDS in 2009, sustaining lower spinal cord damage until today, though his immune system and overall health are better than ever. He is now happily married to an HIV-negative wife, and together, they have a healthy HIV-negative son.

Tim attributes his successful health recovery and overcoming HIV stigma largely to the universal healthcare system in Canada and the financial and emotional support from his parents. Tim has long understood that he has been in a relatively privileged position regarding his fight against HIV and AIDS and wishes that everyone living with HIV or dying from AIDS – or any other preventable misfortune – could be afforded advantages such as he has.

Because of the story of how he acquired, has lived with, and overcame HIV, he also has realized that he is in a unique position to make a positive impact in our world.

Sudip Koirala

Funding Director

Sudip is a leading figure in philanthropy and project management, boasting an extensive global portfolio of work across Nepal, the USA, Canada, and Australia. His broad expertise, encompassing Direct Marketing, Donor Relations, and a commitment to data-driven, ethical fundraising, has significantly advanced the field.

Beyond his impactful fundraising initiatives, Sudip’s leadership as CEO and Country Director for various international non-profits has been pivotal. He has been honored with numerous recognitions and awards worldwide for his selfless service, profoundly changing the lives of those in need.

As a proud Rotarian and a member of the Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers, Sudip’s career shines as a symbol of unwavering dedication and transformative leadership within the global community, reflecting his profound commitment to enriching lives through philanthropy.

Dr. Omopeju Afanu

Executive Director

Dr. Afanu is a management and development expert with expertise in social sector, hospitality, real estate, entrepreneurship, and business development. Her experience in these sectors span over 10 years collectively and possesses over 20 years Entrepreneurial Experience.

She has served as expert resource to State Governments for the development of economic and growth focused strategies and as well as empowerment and human capacity development programmes in diverse sectors of the economy.

She provides mentorship support to entrepreneurs with particular focus on youth and women-owned businesses at various stages of growth (idea, start-up and growth).

She serves as an executive on various organizations that are focused on social impact and community development.

She is very passionate about nation building focusing on entrepreneurship and community development through various impact projects as well as women economic empowerment and growth.

Join With Us

Joel Orphanage of Care Uganda

Careers Internship

Funding

A total of US$ 20.8 billion (constant 2019 US$) was available for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries in 2022––2.6% less than in 2021 and well short of the US$ 29.3 billion needed by 2025.
Around 60% of resources available in 2022 were sourced domestically, compared with around 50% in 2010.
The reduction in resources available for HIV in 2022 is due to declines in both international and domestic funding. The US$ 8.3 billion of external HIV funding in 2022 was 3% lower than in 2021. At the same time, domestic funding is diminishing.
Bilateral funding from the United States Government constituted 58% of all international assistance for HIV, while disbursements from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria accounted for about 29%. Other international donors contributed the remainder, but that share has diminished considerably, from approximately US$ 3 billion in 2010 to US$ 1.2 billion in 2022, a 61% decrease.
In 2022, there was an estimated 90% funding gap for HIV prevention programmes among people from key populations, compared with the funding needed by 2025.

10+

Years Experience

Would you like to join us?

Nobody is as personally invested in ending AIDS as people who live with HIV and those who have nearly died from AIDS. These are the individuals who lead and work for the STF. We will make it happen.