AIDS campaigning in South Africa

John Butler fills us in on his work with an AIDS pressure group in South Africa.

''As 5.5 million people are living with HIV/Aids in South Africa, many volunteers decide to work on this particular issue.'' Sipho Mthathi, TAC’s General Secretary ''Women between 15 and 24 are four times more likely to become infected with the disease as a man in the same age bracket.''

I am currently volunteering in South Africa (SA) for a HIV/Aids pressure group called the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). As 5.5 million people are living with HIV/Aids in South Africa, many volunteers decide to work on this particular issue.

I decided to work for TAC because I was particular impressed by how they work on all levels of society; campaigning for treatment and prevention. Its efforts have resulted in many life-saving interventions, including the implementation of countrywide mother-to-child transmission prevention programme. Stephen Lewis, the UN’s special envoy for HIV/Aids in Africa, described TAC as “the most formidable advocacy group I've ever seen put together."

I interviewed Sipho Mthathi about her role as TAC’s General Secretary to give an overview to Generation Why readers, especially those considering volunteering abroad, about TAC and HIV/Aids.

What’s your greatest TAC achievement?

“I developed a comprehensive treatment literacy (TL) programme, which involved training 120 practitioners to teach in clinics, hospitals, schools, workplaces and community institutions across SA. The TL programme provides a framework for people to organise themselves so that they can demand their rights (e.g. health care and antiretroviral treatment).

I also helped form TAC branches across SA, in places like townships, where the epidemic is based and activism is needed to make the socio/political changes necessary to prevent the pandemic from spreading further.”

Why does TAC focus on female empowerment?

“There are 55,000 reported rapes every year in SA, with fewer than 5% actually leading to conviction. HIV exposes the patriarchal society that exists in SA: women between 15 and 24 are four times more likely to become infected with the disease as a man in the same age bracket.

A revolution is needed to change the patriarchal society into one where women have equal rights and are empowered. Women should be able to demand the use of a condom when they want sex and say no to a man when they don’t.”

What needs to be done in SA to get control of the HIV/Aids pandemic?

“There needs to be an increase in prevention and treatment programmes, and the amount of money invested into treating people with HIV/Aids. Also, the government must atone for previous mistakes and scale up treatment, work to reduce new infections and develop a fully functioning heath service.

At the moment the government is trying to engage with TAC and there does seem to be an emerging commitment to deal with the pandemic. However, this commitment needs to continue to policy implementation that saves lives.”

To volunteer for the Treatment Action Campaign in SA follow this link or send an email to John@tac.org.za