South Africa should, and could, be doing much more than it currently is to combat the AIDS pandemic. The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, has said:

“I can confidently and categorically state that every single country (in East and Southern Africa) is working harder at treatment than is South Africa, with fewer relative resources and, in most cases, nowhere near the infrastructure or human capacity of South Africa.”

The South African government has focused its AIDS prevention campaigns on the use of condoms, which are distributed in schools as early as first grade. There has been a lot of media publicity aimed at educating people about the virus, yet these ads are provocative and risqué. The majority of South Africa still does not understand how the virus is contracted and what they can do to avoid it.

The problem isn’t solely a lack of education about AIDS, but rather a mis-education. The South African president has issued statements that HIV does not cause AIDS, and that it is not an issue that needs to be worried about. While he did later retract his statement, it shows the confusion that is bred regarding HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

People wrongly believe that taking a laxative or showering immediately after intercourse will keep you from getting the AIDS virus. There is also a belief that sex with a virgin will cure someone from AIDS. This has led to a high rate of child and infant rape in South Africa.

The national program to roll out ARVs (antiretroviral medication) has been largely unsuccessful. It has not reached the areas where it is most needed, and is still unavailable to the majority of HIV+ people. In some areas, including Qwa Qwa, roll-outs began but then came to a sudden stop when the ARVs designated to the area ran out. It is actually more detrimental to the long-term health of an HIV+ patient to begin treatment and not continue it.