AIDS: The Challenge for South Africa

On the issue of HIV / AIDS, the majority of South Africans can be divided into two broad categories: those who bury their heads in the sand and deny that an epidemic exists, and those who believe that it exists but they cannot do anything about it. This book offers a third view which is shared by a small number of people active in the HIV / AIDS field: there is an epidemic, but there are plenty of things we can do to prevent it spreading further and to ameliorate the impact of increasing sickness and death among those already infected. Among many topics, this volume covers the likely origin of HIV/AIDS; the current situation in the world and in Africa; why it has hit Africa so badly; and the possible demographic, economic, and social consequences for society over the next twenty years. Along the way, the authors dispose of many myths associated with the epidemic. Finally, rather than proposing a grand, monolithic plan, the authors recommend a grassroots approach made up of many small initiatives, pursued on as wide a front as possible, to overcome the epidemic and soften its impact.Clem Sunter is the author of 'AIDS: The Challenge for South Africa', published 2000 under ISBN 9780798140621 and ISBN 0798140623.