AIDS
In the US, we have a very cautious attitude towards AIDS/HIV. People who are even slightly conscientious use condoms, and it's downright cool in many social circles to use condoms, as more than just birth control. Prevention of HIV infection is something everyone takes seriously (some people less so), but it is under control, even though AIDS is still an incredible problem, and a major killer.
Sub-Saharan Africa is a completely different world, in many ways. HIV prevalence is absolutely staggering. In Mozambique, the best situation of the Sub-Saharan countries, infection is at 13% (official number, but most agree the real number is closer to 20%). In a couple of populated corridors, such as the one I'm in now, infection levels are above 30%. Boane hosts a military base, which raises the numbers even higher. We travelled to Motola, a fairly prosperous city just a few kms from Maputo, and saw an avenue marked with reminders of SIDA (AIDS in Portuguese). Red ribbons were graffitied on trees lining the avenue and the initials SIDA. It was amateur-looking, but this is as official as public awareness seems to get - the government makes a considerable effort, but with a lack of funds to do very much, public displays are difficult.
There are a lot of myths about HIV/AIDS contraction here, and most have to do with who is able to get it. As educators, we have to teach that everyone is susceptible. And in more ways than just vaginal or oral sex. Apparently, official recommendations now say that AIDS can be acquired via oral sex, however rare, and also by "wet" kissing - also rare, but possible. This, of course, isn't the main concern of Mozambicans. Education is critical for the next sexually active generation, because HIV prevalence will skyrocket otherwise. And we see examples very nearby. The most dramatic is in Botswana.
Just a couple years ago, HIV infection in Botswana was around (or below) 30%. This is a very bad number. At this point in our HIV/AIDS epidemic, there begins to be a lot of orphans and infected children who never get to grow up. Today in Botswana, according to a very recent estimate, fully 50% of the adult population (15+ years) is infected. This means that if you have unprotected sex with someone, you have about a 75% chance that one of the two of you will be infected, if not the both of you. This means that only a quarter of children are completely safe from vertical infection (parent to child, specifically mother). This means that there will be a significant decrease in children that live to 10 years - so much so that the children who do live will have seen so much death, that they will have to be careful when being sexually active, or so we can hope.
There IS hope, however. If you can look past the morbidity, people with natural resistance to AIDS/HIV will prosper in Botswana and will rebuilt the country after such a horrible disaster, stronger than it was before. I just hope this transition begins sooner rather than later.
Peace
John
