Out with Garlic, in with ARVs?
Not much changed in South Africa after Thabo Mbeki resigned the presidency last week. But his successor did make one move that could mean the difference between life and death for thousands if not millions of Africans: he removed the country's infamous health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
International health officials regularly blasted Tshabalala-Msimang for denying that AIDS was a problem, calling anti-retroviral drugs "poisonous" and suggesting that people infected with HIV eat garlic and beetroot instead.
Partly as a result, few South Africans infected with HIV receive the most effective treatment: only 28 percent of those who qualify for anti-retrovirals are on the drug regiment.
Leadership alone can make a difference in the fight against AIDS, according to a study from the AIDS and Society Research Unit at South Africa's University of Cape Town. The study found that "when it came to implementing effective AIDS policies, good leadership could overcome resource constraints, health system weaknesses and other limitations."
We still don't know who will fill the vacated health post, but it'd be hard to find a candidate worse than the one who just departed. Let's hope the new officeholder signals a change in attitude. South Africa is emerging as an important economic leader in sub-Saharan Africa. It's high time the country led the region's fight against HIV/AIDS, too.
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While the article about South
While the article about South African: Women at the Forefront of Change, demonstrated strides made in South Africa for women in the areas of dialogue, social assistance grants. The many areas in need of change are quite over-whelming. Women who are dying, and have many children, may not be in a position to create their own agency of change. I was also confused by Manuel's statement that, women needed to be involved in the AIDS-induced phenomenon of child-headed households." Are they not currently involved in this phenomenon? It's clear grassroots initiatives to help people usually prove to be beneficial; however, the problem of AIDS in South Africa, is going to need the help of the world.
Noerine Kaleeba of UNAIDS stated, "The worst is yet to come, by 2010, at least 20 million AIDS orphans will live in Africa. Twenty million uneducated, street-hardened, weather-beaten, and ultimately bitter African Children will present formidable challenges to our continent and the world."
http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-AIDS?open&lid=...
In accessing the water
In accessing the water shortage in Cairo, Egypt, it's clear that a long-term strategy needs to be enacted with the help of city planners and engineers. It's important to recognize that water sustainability will not be possible overnight, but if Egypt's water problem is a candidate for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and MCC follows through on what it is designed to accomplish, then clean water for Cairo residents is a possibility.
The Christian Science Monitor reports, "As we stand on the precipice of a global financial crisis, the US must reassert leadership in addressing poverty reduction and economic growth in the developing world."
Barbara Hogan: Hope for South Africa?
Given South Africa's prominence in the African continent, and its role-model status in terms of economic and democratic development, the levels of HIV and AIDS in the country and the complete ineptitude of the government thus far in dealing with them are shameful.
There is more than enough reason to doubt that Jacob Zuma will be any more effective than Thabo Mbeki was in battling the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country. Possibly the most fearful revelation of Zuma's ignorance surrounding HIV/AIDS and transmission came during the rape trial which took place in 2006 when he stated that did not use a condom despite knowing the woman whom he engaged in sex with was HIV positive and that he "left his bedroom after having sex with the woman" and [took] a shower because this "would minimize the risk of contracting the disease [HIV]."
Despite this alarming and dangerous ineptitude, he may be stuck with a health minister who actually knows what she is doing. According to the Treatment Action Campaign, a South African group looking to promote better understanding of HIV/AIDS, Hogan's speech at the recent HIV Vaccine Research Conference displayed understanding of the disease and commitment to the fight against it. Some of the highlights include:
Let us all hope that Hogan's display of compassion and understanding lasts and counters the possibly deleterious effects of a Zuma presidency on the fight against HIV/AIDS. If it truly is out with garlic, in with ARVs, maybe there is hope for South Africa yet.
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