South Africa’s HIV Future Looks Dire
South Africa is already home to more HIV-positive people than any other country, 5.7 million at last count. But there's more to come: A new report says that despite rapidly expanding efforts to deal with the problem, 5 million more people will be infected over the next 20 years.
South Africa is already home to more HIV-positive people than any other country, 5.7 million at last count. But there’s more to come: A new report says that despite rapidly expanding efforts to deal with the problem, 5 million more people will be infected over the next 20 years. –JCL
WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…The New York Times:
South Africa, already home to 5.7 million H.I.V.-positive people, more than any other nation, can expect an additional five million to become infected during the next two decades even if the nation more than doubles its already considerable financing for treatment and prevention and gives prevention a higher priority, according to a report presented here Friday to the country’s leading advisory body on AIDS policy.
South Africa has far and away the continent’s leading economy, but the study concludes that it nevertheless faces a “major and mounting financial challenge” to confront its AIDS problem, explaining that about $102 billion will need to be spent over the next 20 years merely to keep the number of new infections at the projected five million mark.
“The government doesn’t seem to have their heads around the numbers yet, and they are going to have to do some thinking out of the box,” Teresa Guthrie, an economist and one of the report’s authors, said in an interview. “It’s not an encouraging picture.”
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Film Review
Hayao Miyazaki’s latest feature is a wondrous feat of storytelling.
Book Review
A comprehensive new book by Vietnam War draft resister Jerry Elmer documents over a century of U.S. opposition to war and the military draft.
Activism
Reflections on the efforts to stop Cop City in Atlanta and on the state's efforts to silence voices of dissent.
Courts & Law
Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents have risen sharply in the wake of October 7th, but the narrow legal definition of a hate crime makes it difficult to prove in court.
TD Original
Ex-employees at “West Virginia’s Chernobyl” speak out on lethal cancers, regulatory failure and contaminated drinking water.
Education
Research on a police diversion program implemented in 2014 shows a striking 91% reduction in in-school arrests over less than 10 years.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.