Women of Africa most vulnerable to vicious cycle of HIV/AIDS

TO overcome the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Africa will need to pour more resources into researching a winning strategy that will integrate key aspects of prevention, care and social support.

Speaking at the opening of the second African conference on ‘Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research’ in Cape Town on Sunday, May 9, conference director, Dr Dan Kaseje said that the women of Africa are the most vulnerable to the disease.

‘Of the 42 million people in the world living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2001, more than 70% (28,5 million) live in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is the only continent where women are more infected. In Kenya, for example, AIDS kills the young, more productive women faster than males and older women,’ says Dr Kaseje, who heads the Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development based in Nairobi.

‘Although the women of Africa are more economically active – providing the largest labour force in agriculture – they are still economically dependent on men and thus have no control over their destiny when ill.

‘Women still form 70% of the world's poor and poverty enhances exposure to infection. Caring for people living with HIV/AIDS is costly and few women can afford treatment. They are thus caught up in a vicious cycle of poverty which lead to the disease, and the disease which leads to even greater poverty.

‘This conference is aimed at using research to address the imbalances in access to care. We need a strategy that will integrate all three areas of prevention, care and social support. Focusing on the one aspect alone will not break the vicious cycle,’ he said.

According to Dr Olive Shisana, Executive Director of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), a major breakthrough was made in this direction with the formation of a network of African scientists known as the Social Aspects of AIDS Research Alliance (SAHARA).

‘Major strides have been made in sharing research information very rapdily across Africa, as multi-country and mutli-site studies are being undertaken simultaneously on mutually agreed priorities,’ she said.

Dr Cheikh Niang of the University of Dakar in Senegal urged African leaders to propagate a more positive approach to fighting the pandemic.

‘Nobody goes into battle with an air of defeat. We have a historical heritage of defeating apartheid, colonialism and slavery. Africa will never die from Aids,’ said Dr Niang.

Over 400 delegates, mostly from Africa, have registered for the four day conference which ends on Wednesday, 12 May 2004.

(Programme details are available on www.sahara.org.za.)