The Political Management of HIV and AIDS in South Africa : One Burden Too Many?

This book analyzes successive governments' management of the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. The book covers the years 1982-2005, using expert thinking regarding public policy making to identify gaps in the public sector's handling of the epidemic. It highlights critical lessons for policy makers and other public health managers. AIDS is killing South Africans at a rate equivalent to one September 11th attack every three days. Yet the government seems intent on proffering quixotic solutions to a problem that it downplays. This book is an enquiry into the public policy response to the South African AIDS epidemic. Since AIDS first appeared in the country in 1982 there have been numerous good policy documents written by successive South African governments - yet the epidemic shows little sign of abating. The AIDS policy environment has become so contested that the courts are increasingly called upon to intervene between a government and a civil society that seem to be at war with one another. This book reviews the responses of the National Party, Mandela and Mbeki governments to the growing epidemic, and concludes that, unless public policy makers address the ostensibly 'undiscussible' structural drivers of the AIDS epidemic, South Africans will continue to suffer the ravages of the epidemic Aids Is Killing South Africans At A Rate Equivalent To One September 11th Attack Every Three Days. Yet The Government Seems Intent On Proffering Quixotic Solutions To A Problem That It Downplays. This Book Is An Enquiry Into The Public Policy Response To The South African Aids Epidemic. Since Aids First Appeared In The Country In 1982 There Have Been Numerous Good Policy Documents Written By Successive South African Governments - Yet The Epidemic Shows Little Sign Of Abating. The Aids Policy Environment Has Become So Contested That The Courts Are Increasingly Called Upon To Intervene Between A Government And A Civil Society That Seem To Be At War With One Another. This Book Reviews The Responses Of The National Party, Mandela And Mbeki Governments To The Growing Epidemic, And Concludes That, Unless Public Policy Makers Address The Ostensibly 'undiscussible' Structural Drivers Of The Aids Epidemic, South Africans Will Continue To Suffer The Ravages Of The Epidemic. Introduction -- 1. Aids, Poverty And Development In Southern Africa -- 2. The Hiv And Aids Policy Environment In Apartheid South Africa (1982-1994) -- 3. Biomedical And Workplace Responses In Apartheid South Africa (1982-1994) -- 4. Public Sector Responses To Hiv And Aids In Apartheid South Africa (1982-1994) -- 5. Aids Policy-making During The Mandela Administration (1994-1999) -- 6. Aids Policy-making During The First Mbeki Administration (1999-2004) -- Conclusion: Looking Back And Looking Forward -- Appendix: Aids Timeline (1982-2004). Pieter Fourie ; Foreword By Alan Whiteside. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 215-233) And Index. "AIDS is killing South Africans at a rate equivalent to one September 11th attack every three days. Yet the government seems intent on proffering quixotic solutions to a problem that it downplays. This book is an enquiry into the public policy response to the South African AIDS epidemic. Since AIDS first appeared in the country in 1982 there have been numerous good policy documents written by successive South African governments - yet the epidemic shows little signs of abating. The AIDS policy environment has become so contested that the courts are increasingly called upon to intervene between a government and a civil society that seem to be at war with one another. This book reviews the responses of the National Party and the Mandela and Mbeki governments to the growing epidemic and concludes that, unless public policy-makers address the ostensibly 'undiscussible' structural drivers of the AIDS epidemic, South Africans will continue to suffer the ravages of it."--BOOK JACKET Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction....Pages 1-24 AIDS, Poverty and Development in Southern Africa....Pages 25-49 The HIV and AIDS Policy Environment in Apartheid South Africa (1982–1994)....Pages 50-64 Biomedical and Workplace Responses in Apartheid South Africa (1982–1994)....Pages 65-85 Public Sector Responses to HIV and AIDS in Apartheid South Africa (1982–1994)....Pages 86-104 AIDS Policy-making during the Mandela Administration (1994–1999)....Pages 105-138 AIDS Policy-making during the First Mbeki Administration (1999–2004)....Pages 139-172 Conclusion: Looking Back and Looking Forward....Pages 173-188 Back Matter....Pages 189-240