Ignorance Is Not Bliss

I knew that HIV and AIDS is a major issue in South Africa but this video, Lessons From South Africa, is definitely an eye opener.

The South African media ought to be congratulated for taking the fore front in this fight. They have done what most other countries are yet to do. They realize what this epidemic is doing to the people of this country and know that unless they do something to stop it, it will consume them all.

The South African government, however, has not done enough. Many South African organizations have come out and accused the government of ignorance. Saying that the leaders refuse to acknowledge the presence of this disease and the impact it has to this nation.

According to Dr Francois Venter of The Reproductive Health and Research unit at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, it is estimated that half of South Africa will be infected with HIV. That means half of over forty seven million people are estimated to be infected with HIV.

Also from the video, 50% of the deaths in the country are related to HIV and AIDS in one way or another. According to statistics posted on the Avert website( http://www.avert.org/safricastats.htm) , the annual number of registered deaths caused by HIV and AIDS rose by a massive 91% between 1997 and 2006 (which was the last time this survey was taken). Among those aged 25-49 years, the rise was 170% in the same nine-year period. As if this is not breath taking enough, 61% of deaths related to HIV are wrongly attributed to other causes such as tuberculosis in adults and respiratory problems in children. This means the 61% is not accounted for in the 91% above. Relying on this statistics only, I can say that at least 2000 people dies of AIDS in South Africa every day!

How is it possible for not just the government, but for anyone to ignore this appalling statistics?

In my opinion, although the government should be shamed, it is not the only party that can be labeled ignorant in this case. The people themselves have played a major role in letting this disease get out of control. According to Richard Delete in the video, 66% of the people who have come out for talks and testing do not consider themselves to be at risk of HIV. That is actually about thirty one million people who don’t think they are at risk of a disease that is taking 2000 lives every single day. Is that not ignorance?

The fact that anyone in South Africa or any other part of the world is having unprotected sex with multiple partners is just beyond my understanding. HIV and AIDS in South Africa is already way out of control. The people and the government need to stop their ignorance and start doing something.