ON WORLD AIDS DAY

Today we observe World Aids Day under the theme; Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS Free Generation. 

Yours truly has noted that in as much as one might want to portray the AIDS epidemic as a global issue it is undoubtedly, in many ways an African story. The speed at which the diseases spreads indicates that Africa in in a serious predicament. I have noted that the story of how Africa's AIDS crisis came to be is not only controversial but contentious an issue. Researchers have theorised one potential cause after another, with some suggesting that its is a question of culture, physiology, food practices, poor governance and so on. Some even suggested that AIDS was created in a laboratory in the United States of America specifically to deal with homosexuals and Africans. None of the theories seem convincing though. Is it that Africa is cursed? Is it about Africa's cultural particulars in relation to marriage and sex? I shudder to imagine.

It is sad to note that in Sub Saharan Africa life expectancy is decreasing rapidly while mortality rate is increasing. There is no political will to deal with the epidemic.

What then shall we do?
I honestly think the onus is on the government to Chanel a considerable amount of resources and engaging all stakeholders ie the international community toward eradicating the disease.
There is a need to take courageous steps to deal with religious and cultural norms and taboos head on using mass media to raise awareness effectively.

While present strategies such as condom use should be promoted I strongly feel that there best method is availing anti retroviral drugs. Why? Use of condoms which is inexpensive is a void method when couples want to conceive or have already engaged with infected persons.