News and Politics
The AIDS Epidemic in South Africa
by Sarah Trance, SUNY Cortland, May 3, 2008
Currently, South Africa is experiencing one of the worst and most severe AIDS epidemics in the world. The most rapid increase in AIDS in this part of Africa was between 1993 and 2000 (Pembrey, 2008). This issue went unnoticed and untreated for so long because of major political and social changes at the time (Pembrey, 2008). Because of this lack of attention, AIDS spread widely and rapidly throughout the country (Pembrey, 2008). Many believe it likely that if this disease had been given the attention it deserved at the time of first transmission, the epidemic would be less severe today and hundreds of lives could have been saved (Pembrey, 2008).
Many people in the United States do not understand the severity of HIV in South Africa. By the end of 2005 there were one and a half million people living with AIDS in this country, with almost one thousand AIDS-related deaths a day (Pembrey, 2008). This means that in South Africa alone, one out of every five adults are infected with HIV (Pembrey, 2008). These numbers are so high because sadly, the people of this community have no way to receive treatment (Pembrey, 2008). Cemeteries are said to be running out of space because relatively 71% of their people are dying from AIDS (Pembrey, 2008).
Antiretroviral treatment has been supplied to HIV positive people starting in 2004, long after many other countries introduced and dispensed such medications (Pembrey, 2008). However, even the distribution of these drugs has been slow (Pembrey, 2008). It is estimated that only around 33% of individuals that are HIV positive had received treatment at the end of 2006 (Pembrey, 2008). In terms of testing, HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) has increased over the years (Pembrey, 2008). However, in some areas the quality of this testing and the adequacy of its counselors are in question (Pembrey, 2008). Also, there is a huge issue regarding testing and gender. Women seem to be tested more than men and this is because men generally do not want to be stigmatized or burdened by the severity of the information disclosed from test results (Pembrey, 2008).
Misinformation about AIDS has hindered individuals regarding treatment and also has created false stereotypes that have created a prejudice toward people living with HIV (Pembrey, 2008). Many times, in South Africa especially, people that disclose that they are HIV positive are treated with hostility and rejection by their community (Pembrey, 2008). Misinformation has also assisted in the rising number of children diagnosed with HIV and the number of orphans in this country (Pembrey, 2008). Because of the lack of treatment and protection for pregnant women in South Africa, there is an alarming 260,000 children who have HIV transmitted to them by their mothers in 2006 alone (Pembrey, 2008). There are also an alarming number of orphans in South Africa (Pembrey, 2008). By 2005, there were an estimated 1.2 million children orphaned because of their loss of parents due to HIV/AIDS (Pembrey, 2008). With the loss of parents, children are likely to face health issues, poverty and lack of education (Pembrey, 2008).
In South Africa there are a number of prevention campaigns dedicated to making individuals aware of safer sex, testing and treatments for HIV (Pembrey, 2008). Some notable national efforts are “The Soul City Project”, “The Beyond Awareness Campaign”, “The Khomanani (Caring Together) Campaign” and the “loveLife Campaign” (Pembrey, 2008). In order for this epidemic to diminish it is very important that a global effort is made to rid such problems. For individuals that are interested in helping, they can donate their time and/or money to the AIDS Foundation of South Africa.
References
Pembrey, G. (2008). HIV and AIDS in south Africa. Retrieved April 24th, 2008 from http://www.avert.org/aidssouthafrica.htm
To donate: www.aids.org
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://neovox.cortland.edu/mt/mt-tb.cgi/591
your thoughts?
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)