SA HIV TimelineSocio-political context for the prolonged delay in initiating a phased ART rollout in a country where 18% of the people are estimated to be HIV+ and the proportion of new infections ~16%, based on 2013 estimates (UNAIDS)

1984-1986

1987-1988

1989-1991

1992-1993

1995

1996-1997

1998

1999

Chris Hani, (28 June 1942 – 10 April 1993) , was a chief of staff of the ANC’s armed wing; *among South African adultsSources: Wikipedia; UNAIDS GAP report. 2014; Nackerdien Z: The Heroine Next Door (& references therein). 2015; van der Vliet V. AIDS: Losing "The New Struggle"? Daedalus. 2001;130(1):151-84.

2000

2001-2015

• 300 children killed; 1,000 wounded; 11,000 detained; 18,000 arrested

• Country “ungovernable”

We don’t need no education

• R1 million• Sechaba, an ANC

publication, questions African origin of virus

• Some US academics refute the notion that HIV causes AIDS

Paltry budget & mistrust

• HIV prevalence* ~ 1.74%

• “…we cannot afford to allow the AIDS epidemic to ruin the realization of our dreams”

Hani’s speech & aftermath

• Comprehensive draft of national AIDS strategy

• Hani assassination• AIDS =“Afrikaner

Intervention to Deprive us of Sex”

Plans & bias

• Sarafina II, a government-sponsored AIDS musical, fails

• Cost ~ R14.2 million

Campaign fails

• AIDS plan falters• An industrial

solvent, Virodene PO58, touted as anti-HIV drug

Pseudo-science

• “Ten minutes to save the Nation” speech ineffective

• AIDS crisis summit• AZT use

discontinued

Talk & AZT

• HIV prevalence*~22.4%

• Western Cape province treats patients with AZT

↑HIV & ignoring AZT ban

• Criticism of AIDS denialism gains momentum in SA

• Mbeki withdraws from the public debate on HIV & AIDS

Turning the tide

• Law upheld for generic ART production in SA

• R5 billion spent in 2012 on HIV mgmt.

• Epidemic stabilized thanks to phased ART rollout

Moving forward

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