The upshot of all this activity is a marked reduction in the rate of new infections, though sceptics point out that the fall began before ARV use and circumcision became widespread, and that the role of behavioural changes (including a greater willingness to use condoms) should thus not be underestimated.
One advantage of the economic slowdown was the reduction in mining activity that made equipment makers like Caterpillar and Hitachi offer better deals.