Johannesburg
A top U.N. official has written a book criticizing South Africa for spreading lies about HIV and for failing to treat AIDS patients. Stephen Lewis, the envoy to Africa for AIDS issues, writes in Race Against Time that South Africa is “lagging unconscionably” in treatment of its 6.3 million HIV-positive citizens. Only about 78,000 are receiving anti-retrovirals from the government. South African President Thabo Mbeki has said he doesn’t believe that HIV causes AIDS, while Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said that eating sweet potatoes and garlic is more effective for AIDS sufferers than taking anti-retroviral drugs. Lewis wrote that “every senior U.N. official” he has talked to is “completely bewildered by the policies of President Mbeki.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
One great cookbook: Joshua McFadden’s ‘Six Seasons of Pasta’the week recommends The pasta you know and love. But ever so much better.
-
Scientists are worried about amoebasUnder the radar Small and very mighty
-
Buddhist monks’ US walk for peaceUnder the Radar Crowds have turned out on the roads from California to Washington and ‘millions are finding hope in their journey’
