The struggle continues...

The class of 1976 had the struggle against Afrikaans as the language of
instruction and against apartheid. It's been said that post 1994, HIV/AIDS
is the struggle of our time. The virus was discovered in Los Angeles in
June 1981. Thirty years later millions of South Africans are living with
the virus and new infections are still at unacceptable rates although they
are decreasing. There are more people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa
than in any other country in the world.

So just what will it take to win this battle? Are we adequately informed;
we all know how HIV/AIDS is contracted and how to prevent infection right?
Why is it that educated, well informed young peole continue to practice
unsafe sex? How do you explain someone who has lost both a mother and a
sister to HIV/AIDS contracting the virus from unprotected sex after the
fact? What does it mean when intelligent women are more concerned with
getting pregnant than with contracting this virus? Can we please have a
conversation around these questions because that is where the answers lie.

That said we are making some strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In his
first World Aids Day speech as president in 2009 Jacob Zuma admitted to
making mistakes in his own personal life with regards to the virus. In
April 2010 he announced a campaign to get 15 million South Africans tested
by June 2011. He fell a little short at only 13 million people but that's
13 million less peolpe who are in the dark about their status. His
appointment of Dr. Aaron Mostwaledi as minister of health speaks to his
commitment to the fight. Today at the World Aids Day celebration in Port
Elizabeth he announced the New National Strategic Plan coming into effect
in April 2012.

So AIDS denialism at government level seems to have died along with Thabo
Mbeki's presidency. Now it's our turn; the young, the smart, the educated,
the capable. We all have a role to play so join LovedEtched in starting a
conversation.

♥ This is a love movement people... Get involved.