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These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes,
and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
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Mary Thanks for this message. It is important for other people to know what it is happening here. Carol 2009/12/1 Mary van der Riet <vanderriet@ukzn.ac.za> > I'm paraphrasing Mail and Guardian news reports here, but here is the South > African update for this global problem: > > South Africa, a nation of about 50-million, has an estimated 5,7-million > people infected with HIV -- more than any other country in the world. Nearly > 1 000 South Africans die every day of Aids-related diseases. > > While South Africa's HIV-infection rate may have stabilised, experts warn > that the country's slow response to the pandemic has triggered a time bomb > that may leave one in three children orphaned. "Estimates show that by 2015, > some 5 700 000 or 32% of all children in South Africa would have lost one or > both parents due to HIV/Aids," said Gail Eddy, a researcher at the Institute > of Race Relations. > > In 2008 there were 1,5-million Aids orphans according to the country's > health department. She said as the pandemic continues to shorten the lives > of parents more children were going to be orphaned and the number of > child-headed households would increase. > > > Former president Thabo Mbeki's government questioned the link between HIV > and Aids, and his health minister distrusted drugs developed to keep Aids > patients alive, instead promoting beetroot and garlic as Aids treatments. > A Harvard study has concluded that more than 300 000 premature deaths in > South Africa could have been prevented had officials here acted sooner to > provide drug treatments to Aids patients and to prevent pregnant women with > HIV from passing the virus to their children." > > Some have referred to his stance as 'genocide' > > Today, South Africa's president Jacob Zuma argued that extraordinary > measures were needed to address South Africa's HIV problem. > > He called on all South Africans to test and know their status. He also > promised an upscaling of ARV treatment provision. > > "The HIV tests are voluntary and they are confidential. We know that it is > not easy. It is a difficult decision to take," Zuma said. "I am making > arrangements for my own test. I have taken HIV tests before, and I know my > status. I will do another test soon," he said. "I urge you to start planning > for your own tests." > > His public candour marked a sharp break from the denialist policies of > former president Thabo Mbeki, who defied scientific evidence to question the > link between HIV and Aids, delaying the provision of treatment to millions > of people" > > Mary > > > > > > Mary van der Riet; School of Psychology; University of KwaZulu-Natal > Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 > > email: vanderriet@ukzn.ac.za > tel: 033 260 6163; fax: 033 2605809 > > Please find our Email Disclaimer here: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/disclaimer/ > _______________________________________________ > xmca mailing list > xmca@weber.ucsd.edu > http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca > -- 6 Andover Road Westdene Johannesburg 2092 011 673 9265 082 562 1050 _______________________________________________ xmca mailing list xmca@weber.ucsd.edu http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca