Wednesday, December 2, 2009

South Africa Issues Broad AIDS Policy

South African government has enacted a new policy regarding HIV/AIDS and treatment. They are now issuing more drugs to treat AIDS and taking measures to ensure that babies are born healthy. Additionally, they are treating people with HIV for tuberculosis earlier, when their immune system is stronger so that they can stay healthy later. They have been advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) because tuberculosis is kills the most HIV infected people in South Africa. In his address, Mr. Zuma claimed that the government will be treating more HIV positive people sooner, and helping the HIV positive people stay healthy for a longer amount of time. Additionally, Mr. Zuma encouraged the people of South Africa to "use condoms consistently and correctly during every sexual encounter".

I think it's important that the South African government take control and provide treatment for HIV positive people. Not only does it allow them to live healthier lives for longer, but it improves the survival chances of the younger members of the society. More importantly, though, I think Mr. Zuma did the right thing when encouraging the use of protection. Even more importantly, I think the people of South Africa should be educated about the risks of unprotected sex (obviously they know about HIV, but do they really know what they are getting themselves into when they don't slide on that condom? Some don't even know how to properly use a condom). Education combined with abundant availability of protection is the best prevention method against HIV, and I think the South African government is beginning to recognize that.

5 comments:

Wiser One (aka Brian Kawamoto) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Britney Tsao said...

I agree with you Brian for the most part. However, education is important because of the vicious cycle of HIV/AIDS in Africa. The older adults die, leaving the younger adults and the children to fend for themselves. How do they make money? Most of the young women sell their bodies. What do they end up getting? HIV. They do this because they need to make money and get food for their younger sibling or anyone who is left to them when the older adults die. It was in this video that we watched in APES last year. That's why I think education about birth control is so important because it will be most likely to halt this cycle.

Although there is no cure for AIDS, it can definitely be prevented with ample supply of protection and education of all women (and men. I think they all deserve a chance to know what they are getting themselves into and how to lead their lives in a different way.

Mark Sherwood said...

I am curious as to the motives of the South African Government. Aids has been prominent in the world and especially Africa for a long time. Why the action now and not 10 or 15 years ago? Has public pressure been increasing on South Africa to do more about AIDS? Does the global (or south african) economy have something to do with it?

Mark Sherwood said...

I am curious as to the motives of the South African Government. Aids has been prominent in the world and especially Africa for a long time. Why the action now and not 10 or 15 years ago? Has public pressure been increasing on South Africa to do more about AIDS? Does the global (or south african) economy have something to do with it?

Britney Tsao said...

I'm not too sure about this Mark, but I think the South African government had some considerable advice from the World Health Organization (WHO). AIDS has been an issue for quite some time, but sometimes it takes a while for the government to finally take action about it. I really don't know though. I should look it up later.