WORLD AIDS DAY: IGNORANCE DOES HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Today, the 1st of December, marks the international commemoration of World AIDS Day
(WAD). This day, established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) 37 years ago, aims not
only to raise awareness about the HIV and AIDS, but also aims to demonstrate international
solidarity in light of this worldwide peril. 

The theme for this year’s WAD is: “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” Under this
theme, the WHO is championing leaders and citizens across the globe in addressing the
fundamental human right to healthcare, and effectively addressing the impediments and
inequalities that deter the mission to end AIDS. 

The National Health Service (NHS) has defined Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a
sexually transmitted virus that attacks the body’s immune system, weakening one’s ability to
fight off everyday diseases. When HIV has caused severe damage to one’s immune system, it
progresses into a disease called Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is the
most advanced stage of this illness. 

Closer to home, the mid-2024 reports from Statistics SA indicated that approximately 8 million
people were living with HIV in South Africa. Of these, only an approximate 5.9 million was
receiving treatment, whilst around 50 000 people died of this disease in the last year alone. 
Although antiretroviral treatment is recommended for all people living with HIV or AIDS,
ultimately, 1 in every 4 people living with HIV is not receiving treatment. What is particularly
hair-raising is that HIV can hide in your body for an entire decade without being detected. 

Although the first cases of AIDS were reported fairly recently, back in the 1980s, this disease
has ravaged societies across the world. Initially, HIV/AIDS was attested to sexuality, particularly
being connoted to homosexuality. Fortunately, the world soon found that this was not the case. Not only can heterosexuals succumb to the virus, but so can pregnant women, babies, and
absolutely any other human of any age. 

The science and medical sectors have made astonishing advances towards understanding
HIV/AIDS and educating society on the dangers of this disease. Although the disease is not
derived from direct contact with certain bodily fluids: contaminated blood, breast milk, rectal
fluids, semen and pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, and more importantly, sharing intimate
products and devices, or sharing needles and other drug injection equipment. 

Although the spread of information around HIV/AIDS has mitigated much ignorance on this
topic, it has not deterred its prevalence in contemporary societies. This year, South Africa
remains one of the leading nations in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, sitting at 14% of our entire
society. In fact, the province with the highest HIV prevalence in the country is KwaZulu-Natal. 

Although our unequal society means that the vast majority of South African citizens are
remanded to public health services, meaning that the quality of care received is adversely
affected by overcrowding, lack of personnel and resources, access to prevention, care and
treatment, to name a few. 

Socially, there is still a ways to go in combatting the scourge of HIV/AIDS. There are still
rampant misconceptions about the illness, which fosters fear, confusion, and stigmatisation.
This oftentimes has detrimental impacts on afflicted individuals, leading to deterioration in
mental health. This can also lead to people suffering in silence, concealing their status to
discourage social persecution. 

Living with HIV/AIDS can also lead to heightened anxiety, depression, and even drug use,
further worsening the condition. This can also be compounded by opportunistic infections –
such as tuberculosis (TB), liver disease, pneumonia, and various types of cancers – prompted by
one’s weakened immune system. Though this deeply affects people’s quality of life, and often
their ability to work, an underlying strain to this illness is the cost of care, which is often
astronomically expensive and mandatory for any required additional hygiene and blood
screenings. 

With this year’s WAD, WHO is highlighting a stark impediment in the fight against HOV/AIDS:
the need to address the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS. It is therefore vital
that we address this in accordance with the unique challenges of our society: socioeconomic
disparities and economic inequalities that perpetuate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. 

Although raising awareness about the symptoms, dangers and risks of this illness is vital, it is
also important to understand the realities of those living with HIV/AIDS. Over half of the entire
nation – 30.3 million people – live in poverty. Over a third of the entire nation lives in rural
areas, far removed from modern medical facilities. In 2023, Statista reported that only 15.7%
(equating to 3 in every 20 people) have access to a medical aid scheme, with black people
comprising of just 9.7% of the fortunate few. 

Statistics such as these shine a stark light on the impact of HIV/AIDS, not only on individuals and
households, but society at large, and our increasingly-overwhelmed medical system. These
statistics prove that mitigating HIV/AIDS in our society is not merely an individual challenge, but
also a societal one. This indicates that HIV/AIDS must be tackled from a systematic level, an
institutional level, and an economic level. 

As we embark on this annually commemorated day, we need to place emphasis on the
redressing the failures of our governance and institutions in ensuring that HIV/AIDS is stifled.
This not only means equitable access to preventative care and treatment, but also adequately
spreading education about this illness from all sectors of our educational institutions, social
institutions, cultural institutions, and religious institutions. 

This is a day to honour those who have lost their lives as a result of this illness, and to display
support for those living with this illness. This is a prime opportunity to not only celebrate the
leaps and bounds that have taken place in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, but also
to encourage and implement progressive steps towards the prevention and treatment of those
living with this illness in our modern society. 

What should be underscored more than anything is that: You can have HIV/AIDS, and simply
not know it. Ignorance, unfortunately, does have consequences. Individuals must take
responsibility for their health, ensuring that they are being regularly screened for any illnesses such as these. It is also vital that individuals advocate for themselves in their access to health.
The right to healthcare is enshrined in our nation’s constitution, and being informed about
one’s access to these facilities and resources is essential to ensuring that they combat this
disease early. 

The life-expectancy for a person living with HIV/AIDS is as long as a person living without the
illness. However, receiving the correct diagnosis at an early stage is critical to overcoming this
illness, and living a normal life. Proper, timeous treatment can ensure that an HIV person never
contracts AIDS. 

The WHO holds this belief: “With human rights at the centre, with communities in the lead, the
world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”  This is an immense opportunity to work
towards a safer, more responsible society. Every person holds their own lives in their hands,
and it is critical that our society takes the bull by the horn in finally effectively tackling HIV and
AIDS.