governance, citizens and HIV/AIDS
news diaries from Sub-Saharan AfricaArchive for South Africa
African Sex Workers Conference
Sangonet Pulse reports that at an African Sex Workers’ Conference in Johannesburg early this year, sex workers raised concern over the lack of their involvement in government campaigns aimed at HIV prevention. At the conference, organised by Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), delegates said that they want to be “viewed as valued and equal partners and not just as a high risk group”. They also expressed concern at the low supply of female condoms.
Story ideas:
This conference brought together sex workers from around the continent. An interesting story would be how the conference was organised – considering that it involves people in the informal sector from many different countries. It could be informative and instructive to those battling to get voices heard on HIV/AIDS issues across Africa in more structured arenas.
Budget Issues for ARVs
Health department director-general Thami Mseleku said that huge shortfalls in the Treasury’s allocations for antiretroviral treatment meant that South Africa was having to ask donors to fund the sharp growth in demand which was putting pressure on provinces, according to Business Day. The number of people enrolled for ARV therapy has soared from 15 311 in 2004 to an estimated 700 000 in early 2009. An estimated 5,7-million people are believed to be infected with HIV in South Africa with 1,8-million expected to need treatment by 2011. Mseleku predicted that by September provinces would be reporting an overexpenditure on their ARV treatment programme because the Treasury had not made budgetary adjustments to cater for the higher number of cases.
Story ideas:
What is the ARV situation in your province? What are the risks of a repeat of the Free State crisis late year and could a similar situation arise in your own province? (In November, Free State refused treatment to 15 000 new patients because it had run out of funds for drugs.) Interview people such as national health department officials and members of the HIV Clinicians Society.
Using these figures, write a feature article with personal stories that demonstrate the risks of leaving HIV-positive citizens without ARVs. Health-e News covered the Free State debacle extensively, read and listen to their stories on the web for background.
Health4Men
Health4Men, an organisation initiated by the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwanath, has been launched in an effort to address the relative neglect of men who have sex with men in the roll-out of HIV/AIDS treatment and counselling, Business Day reports. Health4Men operates a clinic in Cape Town and will be opening another larger one at Woodstock Hospital in partnership with the Western Cape health department to provide services such as free HIV tests, CD4 counts, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and psychosocial services.
Story ideas:
What services are offered to meet the needs of men who have sex with men in your province or city? Contact this or similar organisation and ask if they have plans to expand.
Also look into the needs of other groups that may be neglected in South Africa’s HIV services. Is anyone advocating for them? What efforts are being made, or could be made, to help them in your community?
AIDS Impacts on Local Municipalities
An Idasa study of 12 South African municipalities on the impact of HIV and AIDS on local government found that almost half of the 589 municipal by-elections in South Africa between February 2001 and December 2007 were caused by death of councillors. And most of these deaths were those of people between 25 and 49 years-old. The findings, published in AIDS and Local Government in South Africa: Examining the Impact of an Epidemic on Ward Councillors, suggests a link between death of young ward councillors and the prevalent AIDS epidemic and warns that loss of skills as a result of AIDS, job migration and increasing demands for service delivery may all undermine service delivery. Co-author Kondwani Chirambo says most councillors interviewed were not comfortable to disclose their status.
Story ideas:
• Are there similar patterns in your area / country – and if you can’t find research findings perhaps write an editorial / opinion piece suggesting that research is urgently needed.
• The finding that most councillors were uncomfortable talking about disclosure of HIV status indicates that stigma is still a huge obstacle. Interview people in your community about their views on stigma, ask them if they think awareness programmes are helping and how they could be improved. What could they do to help in destigmatising HIV/AIDS?
The Difficulty of Being Objective
This is an extract from an interview with award-winning author Jonny Steinberg about his book on HIV/AIDS, based in Lusikisiki:
Were there times you found it difficult to be objective?
“Almost all the time. The book is full of my subjective responses to things, particularly my responses to dying people. I saw a very ugly side of myself. When I met a person at death’s door, a visceral feeling of victory came over me: I am alive, soon you won’t be; I no longer have time for you. I suspect that this subjective response taught me more about AIDS than anything else.”
http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Lifestyle/Article.aspx?id=1030605
Story ideas:
Almost all print media and radio features that deal with stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS either focus on those who have suffered through it or on people and institutions “unlike us” who discriminate against others and stigmatise them.
If you are HIV-negative or don’t know your status, perhaps use Steinberg’s brutally honest admission as a starting point in examining your own reactions to those infected with HIV. You could write a column that reveals your initial feelings, what they were influenced by, and how they have developed over time. If you are HIV-positive, you could write an honest reflection on your feelings and fears before and after diagnosis. You could invite others to join in the reflection in the hope that progress to true acceptance of each other starts with honesty. Just be careful not to allow bigots to use the space as a platform for their hatred.
governance, citizens and HIV/AIDS 