AIDs Effort in South Africa

The discussion on AIDS whether it be about treatment opportunities, how the disease works, what causes it, the debates surrounding it or the social stigmas such as only Gay individuals can contract AIDS and for this reason they brought it on themselves (really people?) has always been of interest.

I also have a very personal connection to these discussions as I have watched my uncle suffer for over 15 years and his life today I see as truly a miracle and perhaps has outlived all predictions because of the great amount of love in his life from both his husband (my uncle David) and family, but I suppose that is another topic all together.

It's so horrible to watch someone suffer and to lose their ability to do all the things they loved because their body is shutting down. It's truly debilitating on so many levels.

So when I saw this article about South Africa really stepping up and making strides to make sure every nurse and doctor is not only educated on the subject but can prescribe medications and various treatments, I smiled. It is such a brilliant move, a move that can save hundreds of thousands of people and maybe even give those people some of their lives back.

Why are people so afraid to talk about it? Is it because a lot of the disease remains largely unknown? I'm not really sure, and I am sure there are many reasons for all the anxiety and closed doors, as there are for anything that is not in the human comfort zone, the realm of absolute safety.

I think South Africa is saying no more, it's time to talk, it's time to cure and hopefully other countries will follow suit so people don't have to struggle like my uncle has.