Witness to AIDS

Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Cameron paid special tribute to the late UKZN Professor of Law, Ronald Louw at a memorial lecture entitled ?‘Get tested, Get treated?’. Professor Louw died as a result of HIV/AIDS in June 2005. Judge Cameron has been living with HIV/AIDS since 1986. The Memorial Lecture was organised by Professor Vasu Reddy of the School of Anthropology, Gender and Historical Studies, and Ms Libby Collins, of the Student Counselling Centre.

Presenting a strong case for routine, confidential testing for HIV, Judge Cameron pointed out that in Botswana, everyone is tested unless they say no. This allows people to be diagnosed and pro-vided with treatment immediately. The stigma associated with HIV/AIDS prevents people from accessing treatment. Even though Ronald Louw was a well-informed, well-resourced and well-educated person, he fell victim to this same stigma.

Judge Cameron said that HIV/AIDS should be viewed in the same light as any other ?‘normal, dread and potentially fatal disease?’. There is nothing special about HIV/AIDSs in this day and age. He is confident that HIV/AIDS is now a manageable disease and should not be treated differently from other life threatening diseases. He was shocked to find on a visit to a local HIV clinic that ?‘staff members are dying of HIV/AIDS but don?’t want to test?’. He applauded UKZN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba for the key role he has played in dealing with HIV/AIDS issues for many years.

Professor Makgoba officially launched Judge Cameron?’s book, Witness to AIDS. The book deals with what he calls ?“the external stigma of HIv/AIDS, the fear of others?”. Adverse reaction all too often finds an ally within. This involves the rejection of life-affirming choices in favour of paralysed inaction, postponement, delay, denial and death.