A Solution for South Africa

The HIV epidemic is a growing problem in South Africa that needs to be solved. Even though HIV is a very common virus in the region, there is still a stigma about the disease leading to a lack of willingness to discuss a positive status. There are organizations in place whose goals are to aid in the education of South Africans about HIV, how the virus is spread and the steps that need to be followed in order to prevent spreading the virus to others. These organizations also provide medical care for those who are already HIV positive. Even with these safe guards in place, the amount of HIV positive people in South Africa has continued to increase.

In South Africa, there is a mass media attempt at educating the people in the area about HIV. Although the media has good intentions, and has made a great effort at publicizing HIV, it has also made HIV positive subjects feel ostracized. With an increase in knowledge also comes an increase in fear. Leading some to treat HIV positive subjects like second-class citizens by refusing to eat a meal with them or even sleep in the same room with them. (Hutchinson, Mahlaela and Yukick) There needs to be more effort to debunk the myths of how HIV is spread and be more matter of fact about the virus. This can be done by revamping the current public service announcements, to include the truths about HIV and directly discussing the myths that have been perpetrated by previous public service announcements and those that are passed down as truths in families and throughout the community. A step that could be taken is having open forum discussions in public areas with question and answer sessions, led by someone who is properly educated in HIV and knows the myths that are considered truths in the communities in which they are holding these sessions.

It has been shown that subjects in South Africa with at least some secondary education seem to have a smaller chance of contracting HIV. (Karim) With this in mind, it is reasonable to assume that making public education mandatory. With the organizations that are already in place there should be a way to find the funding for such ventures. By requiring and providing education starting at an early age, possibly 5-6 years of age, there is greater chance of properly education citizens about the risks and preventative measures associated with HIV. At early ages, children are more likely to grasp new ideas and be able to put those ideas into practice. Even if the children of South Africa are not required to go to school a full 13 years as children in United States are there will still be many opportunities to stress the seriousness of HIV. When being taught to young children and young adults, the discussions regarding HIV should be tactful and to the point, because it is harder to grasp concepts when they are presented in an off-handed fashion. Since there is a large population, who is already infected or still at risk for being infected, and are considered to be past the age of attending school, some form education should also be provided to them. Similar to the G.E.D. program of the United States but geared towards the educational needs of the people in South Africa. Regardless of the age of the person being taught, it is extremely important to have curriculum focused on teaching the proper ways to protect themselves and others in regards to HIV.

Along with better education in regards to HIV there also needs to be more readily available healthcare for those infected, and those who wish to remain HIV negative. When school is required for all children, HIV screening should be the first thing required before entrance. Not to say that HIV positive children should be segregated from HIV negative children or that they should be kept from school, but being aware of the HIV status of children in a learning facility aids in how the child would be dealt with in the case of injury. In addition, a child being aware of their HIV status would aid leading discussions with the HIV positive and HIV negative children, since they would be required to put into practice some of the techniques they would be taught on how to prevent the spread of the virus. Screening should also be provided to all adults, with the option of keeping the results private since there is still a stigma related to being HIV positive. (Hutchinson, Mahlaela and Yukick) With any positive result, the patient should be given the option to attend classes on how to cope with having the virus, the appropriate treatment for HIV and how to protect their children, spouses, and sexual partners. Any pregnant woman should be screened for HIV in order to have the option to take the appropriate retroviral during their pregnancy to prevent the spread of HIV to their unborn child. Along with ante partum retroviral, HIV positive mothers should also be provided artificial milk for their child after the child is born, to further protect the child from the possibility of contracting the virus from its mother's breast milk. Retroviral should be provided for all HIV positive subjects after they have been properly tested. Providing retroviral for the HIV positive subjects of South Africa is not enough, there also needs to be a more readily available supply of condoms and dental dams. Studies have shown that women are more likely to insist on the use of protection if they have it readily accessible. (HIV and AIDS statistics for South Africa) Not only do these need to be provide but instruction, be it in pamphlet form or in a classroom setting. Removing the taboo from the use of these means of protection could go a long way in preventing the spread of HIV.

HIV is a serious concern for the people of South Africa, but by lifting the taboo, and bringing to light the truths about the virus, the spread of the disease can be slowed further. Providing proper medical care for the people of South Africa can not only extend their lives after they have contracted the virus, but also allow the HIV negative subjects to remain HIV negative. Proper education both general education, and HIV specific education can help the South Africans in making better decisions in regards to their health, and allow them the option to further their education beyond what is mandated by law. These simple actions using the resources and organizations that are already in place can greatly reduce the risks of new infections and make the lives of the already infected more enjoyable.

Refrences

HIV and AIDS statistics for South Africa. May 2009 <http://www.avert.org/safricastats.htm>.

Hutchinson, P.L., X. Mahlaela and Josh Yukick. "MASS MEDIA, STIGMA, AND DISCLOSURE OF HIV TEST RESULTS: MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA." AIDS Education and Prevention 19.6 (2007): 489-510.

Karim, S.S. Abdool. HIV/AIDS in South Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.