Thoughts on MDG Presentation- Goal 6 Combating HIV/Aids
The area of focus was spot on, South Africa. It is well known that there is a mejor HIV/AIDS crisis in Southa Africa. Some of the statistics were still shocking, of the 33.2 million people in the world with AIDS 5.5 million are from South Africa, a country with only 44 million people.
I found it frightening that one of the main reasons AIDS got out of control in South Africa was because of political ignorance. I couldn't believe that the leaders of the country denied the fact that AIDS was a problem and that it could be fixed. Some of the social reasons AIDS is prevelent that the group pointed out were: traditional healing, polygomy, and the social stigma- not wanting others to find out that they have AIDS. Some of these problems are hard for me to understand because of it being such a different culture there.
I thought the corporation focus this group did was interesting. I didn't think of this being a way to combat it easily. However they pointed out how corporations have a relationship with the community and because of this relationship they can give education on AIDS to their employees. They mentioned a company in Uganda that adopted the ABC education about AIDS and how to prevent it. This worked in Uganda, and this method could work in South Africa too if applied properly.
I think the group chose a great place for this goal because it is a mojor problem in South Africa. I was suprised that they chose corporation but they gave great reasons for it being a way to help combat HIV/AIDS. If companies in South Africa start to adopt an education system similar to Uganda's ABC education the AIDS crisis in South Africa will be considerably reduced.