A few updates on HIV in South Africa

News About HIV and AIDS
Today there was some exciting news about HIV and AIDS here, unveiled at a global AIDS conference in Cape Town. The first African developed HIV vaccine, with work done at the University of Cape Town, began its clinical trials and with it, has come the hope that this vaccine could be the breakthrough needed to halt the rapid spread of this virus. When we remember that the world's first heart transplant took place here in a hospital, close to where I live, we should not be surprised that the continent that has been most affected by this disease, may indeed have the answer. Professor Anthony Mbewu of the South Africa research Council says "while safe sexual behavior is the key in the fight against HIV and AIDS, a vaccine was urgently needed to stop the spread of the disease." Recent statistics show there are an estimated 5.2 million people infected and hundreds more infected every day despite condom distribution and behavioral programs that educate people ," we know that a vaccine is what we need," Mbew said. In another focus, the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe said South Africa has a goal to end mother-to-child Aids transmission. Soon , the Minister of Health is expected to announce an aggressive new program in this area. Ambitious goals have been set by the government which aims to halve the HIV incidence by 2011 " as well as provide, care, treatment and support to 80 percent of people living with HIV." At the same time, there is a justifiable uproar over in one of the states that , for the last four months have stopped giving out the antiretroviral drugs. There are reported shortages in other states, most of this due in part to the high costs of these drugs. The leading advocacy organization, Treatment Action Campaign says "this results in thousands of aids-related deaths each month." An even bigger concern, something I have seen , is getting HIV positive people to take their medication over the long haul. The irony of this is that, the younger the patient, the more likely she or he is to quit taking their medicines. I first learned this at the hospital as I visited one of our first students who was so ill. thankfully she recovered. When you add the hopelessness many feel at lack of jobs and a promising future and the stigma that still accompanies this virus, it all adds up to a potent mixture for despair. Why bother, is what we hear so often. I am grateful to be part of a program that says, there is hope and life for all in Jesus Christ. As we teach skills to the women, we work to push hard against the stigma and lack of information that is still so widespread in the communities most affected. Above all we seek to bring self esteem and joy into the lives of these women. It takes government, international and local agencies, non-profit organizations and religious groups all working together to make a difference.