Mbeki 'blocked aid' - mag
2002-05-13 09:42
London - South African could have received the international Aids support now flowing to Botswana. While President Thabo Mbeki was in a state of misplaced denial, the country could have alleviated the suffering of thousands of its citizens, says The Economist in an analysis of the HIV/Aids situation in South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.
The magazine compares the three governments' stances on the pandemic in its latest issue.
It says the Botswana government's outspoken commitment to the
HIV/Aids war commendable. Foreign donors appreciate this: Botswana was chosen by the Bill and Melinda Gates and the Merck Company foundations as a partner in one of the world's biggest partnerships between a government and the private sector. American and European universities are also
providing support.
The magazine said that South Africa, despite the fact that it had more people with HIV than any other country in the world, had only recently dropped its "disturbing government policy" on Aids.
The country is now slowly recovering from a state of
denial. "It (South Africa) could, and should, have been at the forefront of the battle. It could have received all the help that foreign foundations and universities are now giving Botswana.
"But, above all, it could have saved thousands of people from the suffering they had to endure while their president laboured under a misplaced state of denial."
According to the magazine, Mbeki admitted that promiscuity played a role in the widespread transmission of the virus only two weeks ago.
This was after he had lashed out at "those who think they are our masters", who are convinced "we are
promiscuous carriers of germs, unique in the world" last year.
"Conversion to reality" is welcomed
His new viewpoint is part of a seeming turnabout on the use of
antiretrovirals for people suffering from HIV and to reduce mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
The Economist says South Africa's policy was founded on Mbeki's "bizarre views on Aids", reflected in party documents as recently as March this year.
The document labelled the suggestion that promiscuity and rape contributed to the transmission of HIV/Aids as "degrading" and "insulting".
"Mbeki's conversion to reality, if it is indeed so, is welcome news for everyone fighting the war against Aids in South Africa."
Fortunately, many brave people spoke out in favour of clear-headedness - despite the government's animosity. The magazine singled out Doctors Without Borders, who treated patients with Brazilian antiretrovirals for six months.
According to The Economist, Mozambique's future looks bleak. Their Aids council has a staff of only five, nobody talks about Aids openly and ministers refused to say whether they had undergone any Aids tests.
The magazine says HIV/Aids threatens to wipe out decades of development in Africa. Most politicians still are reluctant to address the realities. Each African minister should make a start by personally submitting to an HIV test.