South Africa is said to have the fastest growing Aids epidemic in the world with an infection rate of between 1 700 and 2 000 a day. Over 3.5 million South Africans are currently infected with HIV, while more than 1 600 people die each day from Aids related illnesses. All South Africans will be affected, emotionally, physically or financially as economic growth declines and the cost of living soars. It is critical that the church intervenes.

Aids drugs a treatment, not a cure
The prevention of Mother to Child transmission using nevirapine and providing post exposure prophylactics to rape survivors is now included in government's HIV/Aids Plan, although it has not been fully implemented. The ACDP has consistently called for this since 1999 in the National Assembly and long before this in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. The party has pioneered HIV treatment work in KZN since 1997 and has been at the forefront of demonstrating the effectiveness of anti-retrovirals.

While the ACDP recognises that anti-retroviral drugs can prolong an Aids sufferer's life and improve living conditions, they are a treatment, not a cure, and have unpleasant side effects. Most patients cannot afford the drugs, and government is adamant that they cannot either. But in countries where ART is available, increased pharmaceutical costs are balanced by decreased hospitalisation costs. The economy is also positively impacted by the fact that those suffering with HIV/Aids are able to lead productive lives, working and caring for their families.

Going about it the wrong way
Government's response has been to increase spending on condoms and plough large amounts of money into "loveLife" programmes, in spite of the fact that both have proved to be ineffective in addressing the HIV/Aids pandemic.

The reality is that "loveLife", which blatantly promotes oral sex, masturbation, homosexual lifestyles, condoms and abortion as "saving lives" is adding to the problem. loveLife admit that there is no guarantee that they will adequately address Aids. They conduct their own in-house surveys and studies to validate their work, without independent bodies auditing or verifying their results. They also credit their campaign's tremendous successes to having embraced the strategies used by the church in the 80s in reaching the youth.

According to reports, the UK Government is launching a sex education campaign in reaction to alarming figures of sexually transmitted diseases, claiming that previous attempts have been "counter-productive, with sex education becoming inflamed by its own material and becoming increasingly lewd and graphic".

According to findings in a Harvard University study, Uganda may be on its way to wiping out Aids by using a strategy based on chastity and fidelity. The study credits abstinence education with "significant effectiveness in reducing Aids with the HIV infection rate dropping 50 percent between 1992 and 2000."

The study found that between the late 80's and 2001, the number of pregnant women infected with HIV in Uganda dropped from 21.2% to 6.2% while in Botswana, where condoms are officially promoted as the solution, 38% of pregnant women were HIV positive in 2001.

Alternatives are available
There are many organisations operating in South Africa, which, if funded could launch excellent campaigns and produce relevant material to accurately target HIV/Aids with the truth about life, love and sex. We have incredible potential in the church to accomplish what we need to if churches would co-ordinate their responses to better utilise resources and maximise the impact.

The ACDP has consistently challenged government spending with regard to HIV/Aids solutions and will continue to do so, but humanists obviously implement humanist policies and legislation.

It is therefore critical, for Christians to speak out and act in unity, and to place committed Christians in authority, that are prepared to face the onslaught and raise up a standard.

(by Cheryllyn Dudley, From Christian Democrat magazine Issue 1 2003)