What makes a man?

We Need the Men!
Soon after I began my work with women who live with HIV and AIDS here in Cape Town I came to my own conclusion. We are not going to begin to make a dent in the rate of HIV and AIDS without the help of men. In my opinion they hold the keys to change and I have said this whenever I have been asked about HIV and AIDS. How delighted I was last week to hear some commercials on the radio station that I listen to most frequently. These ads are by an organization called "Brothers for Life" who are calling on men to live a responsible lifestyle. I love to hear them. Well, when I first came here, a woman whose work I admire so much, Elizabeth urged me to buy a magazine, called "The Big Issue." "If you really want to make a difference to the men you see on the street, buy this magazine" she said. This periodical helps "willing, unemployed and marginalized adults living in South Africa to take responsibility for their own lives through developmental programs."I listened and ever since buy this magazine from the vendor who sells it near the Longbeach Mall where I live. Often I have to explain to other vendors why I cannot buy from them. They do not always understand but my vendor is always smiling, clean cut and has a family. this week when I opened the Big Issue there was this article, "What makes a man" and it is all about this organization "which hopes to make men in their 30's more responsible for their health and their partners by seriously looking at issues such as multiple concurrent partnerships, low HIV testing rates and generally poor, health seeking behaviour from a man's perspective." According to statistics, the rate of HIV in South Africa is now about 11% but 24% in men aged 25-49. The campaign's organizers hope their "high-profile"campaign will penetrate what they say has been "a neglected population" in the country's fight against this pandemic. They are already encouraged by the excited response of the men involved in this focus. I like it that the adverts are not done by professional actors and actresses but with real partners. Brothers for Life aim "to create a movement of men around the real values that underpin South African men.""We're trying to create a new social norm," they say and to that I say a big and hearty, "Amen" These youngsters I met on a trip to Johannesburg have a bigger chance if Brothers for Life and other like-minded organizations succeed. Yes, we need the men!