Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
aIDS Program for africa, US$18.5 million from USaID, and US$92 million from
the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation. This influx of funding has
been followed by government initiatives to restructure its national aIDS council
and the passing of the
HIV/AIDS Act
.
In botswana, the National AIDS Council has offered its technical and financial
support for a well-coordinated multi-sectoral response for afflicted populations
through government-assisted programmes to stem the spread of the virus.
although slow to respond to the crisis, Zimbabwe has taken steps to address
many of the daunting challenges surrounding HIv/aIDS. the government's
national aIDS programme advanced sound policy to address the crisis and sought
cooperation from print and broadcast media to channels messages promoting safe
sex education and counselling.
South africa's response to the HIv/aIDS crisis has been rather lax and irritating.
after heavy criticism and ridicule from both domestic and international players for
its slow reaction to the pandemic and campaigns of misinformation, the government
eventually began to heed calls for change. It is now collaborating with nGos and
civil society groups to help curb the increasing prevalence rates. with barbara Hogan
appointed minister of health and the resgination of thabo Mbeki as president, the
government's national HIv/aIDS policy is expected to emphasise the importance of
art, prevention, and health education for HIv-positive patients.
Innovation
the importance of government awareness programmes cannot be underestimated.
they empower women from traditionally patriarchal societies to be better informed.
a women's low social status within such societies has a direct correlation to the
contraction of HIv/aIDS. educational programmes and counselling services on
preventive measures against HIv/aIDS are a highly effective means of reducing
prevalence rates. In addition, the use of print and broadcast media is useful in raising
awareness of the HIv/aIDS epidemic and its prevention effort. Publicity has also
proven successful in seeking support for vulnerable victims of the disease and helps
de-stigmatise those afflicted by it.
other innovative strategies that bode well for controlling the spread of the disease
include Zimbabwe's implementation of a comprehensive participatory approach that
included all sectors of society agreeing on policy. Inclusive prevention and treatment
programmes are accompanied by what the government introduced as an aIDS tax to
pay for the work done by the national aIDS council.
after a long court battle with pharmaceutical companies, the South african
government allowed an innovative achievement for specific companies to produce
and sell low-cost generic versions of their drugs. This made South Africa the first
african state to produce its own low-cost HIv/aIDS drugs. therefore, this low
cost increased the potential accessibility of the drugs to a broader segment of the
population.
