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South Africa takes a critical look at its HIV/AIDS response
HDN Correspondent. 07 June 2005. A posting from Af-AIDS ([email protected])
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"HIV/AIDS is the mirror in South Africa's face," said Dr Mamphela Ramphele, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. "It forces us to examine the contours of our face as it really is, and not just as we would like it to be."
Dr Ramphele was speaking at the opening session of the 2nd South African AIDS Conference taking place in Durban this week (7-10 June 2005). The four-day conference opened today amid lively drumming and the buzz of almost 4,000 delegates. The opening session conveyed a sense of hope and optimism, but also pointed to the challenges that South Africa faces in dealing with its HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the difficult - often contentious - issues that will be discussed during the course of the meeting.
The theme of this year's conference is: Unity and Accountability.
Professor Lynn Morris, conference coordinator, said that the theme was chosen because "now, more than ever, we need to work together". Plenary speakers echoed this theme by calling on South Africans to embrace 'ubuntu', an age-old African term that refers to a sense of cooperation, community and humanity to others.
In line with this theme, the conference is addressing issues of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Ramphele referred to a "shouting silence" and said that "silence makes us all accomplices."
In the opening session, four young people from the Soul Buddy Club in Soweto also spoke about their experiences building community at their school and addressing stigma among people impacted by HIV/AIDS. The 13-year old leader of the group said, "We are young, black and gifted. But the best part of it is that we care for each other."
The conference has a strong focus on HIV treatment, given South Africa's efforts to extend antiretroviral (ARV) therapy across the country. Dr. Ernest Darkoh, former Operations Manager for Botswana's ARV program, spoke about the challenges of meeting the incredible demand for HIV-related services, given a limited supply of available resources. He stressed that: "The scale of the solution must match the scale of the problem from the outset", and that decision-makers must think strategically to unlock latent potential and use resources wisely.
The South Africa Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, provided the final remarks of the opening session. In response to criticisms that the government is not doing enough to address HIV/AIDS, the Minister said: "I think what we need to be saying is, 'Can we do more?' But we need to appreciate what government is doing." The Minister referred to successes in the national programme, but also admitted that figures for delivery of care services were only estimates, as record keeping at the clinic level was lacking.
"Our objective as government is to provide quality health care. We are not chasing figures."
In the next few days, South Africa will be holding up its mirror of HIV/AIDS. The conference attendees are hopeful that the gaze upon its reflection will be honest and that new insights might lead to inspired action to stem the tide of the epidemic in the country.
For more information about the 2nd South African AIDS Conference, you can go to: www.sa-aidsconference.com |
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