The question “Does HIV cause AIDS?” has lurked around the fringes since 1987, mostly ignored because it has no basis in scientific evidence. However, the question now affects human lives directly, because AIDS denialists’ views found on the Web have attracted South African President Thabo Mbeki. Some background: perhaps 20% of South Africa’s men and women carry HIV, with 1,700 new infections every day. In Johannesburg, probably 40% of men age 20-29 are infected. In 1998, over 100,000 children were orphaned by AIDS. (The world’s epidemic is a heterosexual phenomenon, unlike the early U.S. experience.)
An inexpensive short course of treatment could dramatically reduce mother-to-baby infections, currently about 80,000 per year, yet public facilities can’t use the drugs, thanks in part to Mbeki’s views. Enormous health-care costs and untold human misery could be avoided but isn’t. Over a million women are raped annually, especially adolescents, because many African men believe that raping a virgin will rid them of HIV. Again, short-course treatment could probably prevent many victims’ infections but is forbidden in public clinics, where all but the wealthy receive care. Mbeki’s very public stance on HIV being harmless surely must impact his people’s thinking about risk behaviors. What does this do to prevention efforts?
Once the brightest hope on the continent, South Africa slides towards AIDS chaos. No one questions the shortage of resources and options available in Africa, but Mbeki wastes time and squanders his credibility entertaining the denialists’ views, all at crushing human cost.–Sandy Bartlett, Community Information/Education Coordinator
AIDS Services of Austin
This article appears in May 26 • 2000.