|
HIV/AIDS in
South Africa
One of Africa’s
wealthiest nations, but as of 2005, only
about 21% of people were receiving the
treatment they need…
History of HIV in
South Africa
Map:
South Africa
Source
1982: First recorded
case in South Africa
1990: 0.8% of pregnant
women were HIV positive
1991: Homosexual HIV +
= heterosexual HIV +
1992: Government makes
first response; NACOSA (National AIDS
Convention of South Africa)
1993: 4.3% of pregnant
women were HIV positive
1994: Minister of
Health accepted a criticized NACOSA strategy
1995: International
Conference was held in South Africa
1996: 12.2% of pregnant
women were HIV positive
1997: 17% of pregnant
women were HIV positive; national review of
leadership was conducted
1998: TAC (Treatment
Action Campaign) formed; 1500 new infections
daily
Logo Source
1999: 22.4% of pregnant
women were HIV positive
2000: Dept. of Health
outlined a new plan
2001: 24.8% of pregnant
women were HIV positive
2002: High Court
ordered that ARV (anti-retroviral) drugs be
available to pregnant women
2003: ARV treatment for
all public plan was made; 27.9% of pregnant
women were HIV positive
2004: ARV drugs were
supposed to become widely available
Treatment of
HIV/AIDS
ARV = Anti-RetroViral
drugs
Treatment Action
Campaign – led by Zackie Achmat
Picture:
Zackie Achmat with Nelson Mandela
Source
--Achmat had HIV, but
refused to take ARV drugs until they become
publicly available. His main argument was
that ARV/prevention costs were less than the
costs of an unchecked AIDS epidemic. In
2003, the TAC even laid homicide charges
against the health minister. They claimed
she was responsible for all the deaths due
to lack of access to ARV.
Government Funding –
Main problem facing South Africa was that
the government was divided on how to deal
with the issue. Since they weren’t united,
it took a long time to set up any
governmentally supported programs. As a
result, even though South Africa is a
wealthy county, it is behind when dealing
with HIV/AIDS. For example, 400,000 people
were supposed to be on ARV by 2005-2006 –
only about 80,000 were. It is estimated
that only 20% are receiving the treatment
they need.
Prison debate – Studies
in 2005 suggested that as much as 50% of
inmates were HIV positive. Yet, many had no
access to ARV drugs. In 2006, inmates even
initiated a hunger strike to raise interest
and bring attention to the issue of
medicating the prisoners.
What’s Necessary for
Progression?
-Stabilized government
programming and planning
-Altered social climate
-Increased ARV
availability
<<Previous Page |
Prevention of HIV
Diverse population = difficult
to influence
Some standards:
Voluntary Counseling and
Testing Centers
Picture:
VCT sign I photographed
during my travels in Africa
New Prevention of Mother to
Child Transmission (PMTCT) centers
--There are now over 18 of
these in South Africa. There is still debate on how
many women are actually receiving treatment though.
In 2004, the South African government said that 79%
of women were getting the drug. But in 2006, UNAIDS
found that only about 14.6% of women were being
treated.
Other initiatives:
Picture:
HIV Awareness
Supporters
Source
LoveLife – Geared towards the
“younger crowd” It is the most prominent campaign in
South Africa. However, in 2005, Global Fund
withdrew support from the campaign.
GASA 6010 – A gay men’s
association; it is a counseling/medical service
aimed at bar and club go-ers.
ACT—Set up in 2001 by the
government, it was supposed to educate people on the
dangers of HIV
Barriers to South African
Efforts
*Denial/Misconceptions
Picture:
Thabo Mbeki
Source
--Including the misconception
that AIDS can spread through casual contact and that
sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDS.
For a long time, Thabo Mbeki, the President, argued that HIV did not
cause AIDS. He also claimed that
the ARV drugs were unsafe. Not until 2002 did the
government actually acknowledge that their efforts
would be based on the premise that HIV causes AIDS.
*Stigmatism
-Instrumental AIDS stigma;
results from fear or apprehension that is associated
with any deadly/transmissible disease.
-Symbolic AIDS stigma; deals
with the use of AIDS to express feelings about
lifestyles that are supposedly associated with the
disease
-Courtesy AIDS stigma;
stigmatism associated with people connected to the
issue of AIDS, or those that are HIV +
*Gender Inequality – In a male
dominated society, many women don’t feel like they
can use condoms.
*Sexual Abuse and Rape
Other National Concerns
-Children with HIV
  AIDS
orphans
Left Picture:
Child with HIV
Source
Right Picture:
Child orphaned by
AIDS
Source
Next Page>> |
