Title: The "impending" AIDS catastrophe] [letter]

POPLINE Document Number: 128985

Author(s):

Caldwell RI

Source citation:

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL, 1997 May;87(5):614.

Abstract:

The editor of the South African Medical Journal (SAMJ) should not refer to South Africa's AIDS catastrophe as impending, for it has already arrived. South Africa's public hospitals are already basically AIDS hospitals. Furthermore, it is irresponsible for the editor of SAMJ to claim that South Africa has almost gone beyond the point at which prevention and health education can make a difference. The country's President, Minister of Health, chiefs, religious and community leaders, teachers, editors, and other influentials should send a blunt, belated, mass media message to the public of their need to change lifestyles, practice safe sex, and respect women's rights in the interest of avoiding an early, horrible death due to AIDS. The biggest media effort to date has been a poorly presented play offering questionable advice about the power of the condom. The Minister of Health and researchers are condemned on the Virodene issue, and SAMJ should have commented upon the Sarafina 2 debacle.

Keywords:

South Africa
Critique
Epidemics
Communication
Influentials
HIV Infections
AIDS
Needs
Africa, Southern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Developing Countries
Diseases
Knowledge Sources
Viral Diseases
Economic Factors