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.
-
Groypers: the alt-right group pulled into the foregroundThe Explainer The network is led by alt-right activist Nick Fuentes
-
10 concert tours to see this upcoming fallThe Week Recommends Concert tour season isn't over. Check out these headliners.
-
How to put student loan payments on pauseThe Explainer If you are starting to worry about missing payments, deferment and forbearance can help
