New Approach to Combatting AIDS

AIDS is one of the most widespread diseases in Africa, with poverty and lack of education constantly being blamed for it. Millions of dollars have been spent on AIDS campaigns in Africa to educate the masses on safe and protected sex. The campaigns in Uganda was a success story and ever since then, the same program has been replicated throughout Africa. However, Emily Oster, a 26 year old economist at the University of Chicago, says that there may be other aspects in play which severely affected the prevalence of AIDS in Uganda, leading to its success story.

In her recent presentation at TED, Emily talks about how maybe funds should be spent on national economic policies that have a higher effect on AIDS. She presents some economic statistics which show the direct relation between economic exports and prevalence of AIDS, with prevalence decreasing as exports decrease and vice versa. There is no clear explanation to this but statistics have proven that this is a fact. My guess is that when exports decrease, people are generally poorer and spend more time working to earn more money. When they are better off, they spend more time “enjoying life”.

Do watch the video as it gives a refreshing and valuable insight into how economic statistics could be used to analyze the cause and effects of social issues, like AIDS. Maybe social researchers and analysts should apply this approach for future projects.

Click here for the video.

- Su Yuen, 21, Sci-tech lover

Hibernating Impending Venom

That's what I'd say HIV is.

This insidious infection that took over the life of someone I knew dearly.

Shamina was a career woman and matronly wife rolled into one - who also took special effort to take care of Jake, 2, and Pearla, 4. She would regularly come home, exhausted from her meetings upon reports upon presentations, but somehow willed her bones to summon more energy and love for her kids. Just so mummy could at least kiss them goodnight, or maybe read them a bedtime story. In fact, I counted myself lucky to have the very occasional coffee with her on the weekend maybe once in 3 or 4 months, if she got her in-laws to help with the children.

She had no idea she was HIV positive for years - why would she, since she had been only faithful to her husband and her world revolved around her family?

It was a rude shock to her - and to me and our small group of close friends - when the diagnosis was out on those weird patches and mega diarrhoea. She had late-stage AIDS, and the next flu or random virus could end her life.

Then she told me something she had not spoken about to any of us: That Clint used to have very frequent business trips to Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand as part of his posting in a foreign bank based here. Heck, I even knew a couple of his colleagues from JC days. On a number of those trips - let's park it conservatively at 15 - sex workers were part of them. He had not used any condoms. F***, how can you be so stupid in this day and age?

The most mind-numbingly stupid part of this whole ridiculousness is the reaction from her relatives. When they heard of her diagnosis, all except Aunty Soo Mei started retreating from her family and - I can't believe this - were saying things about her being promiscuous! Gawd. The line between cause-and-effect and stupendous absurdity is finer that I would like to believe in people. Shamina needed their support. So much. It kills me to remember the pain in her eyes when she said to me, "How are the kids going to grow up in this family now?"

It kills me now, again.

===

His minute of recklessness cost more than her children could bear for the rest of their lives. Dammit, it cost more than we could bear.

She was so strong, so beautiful, right until the end.

I hate Clint for ending Shamina's life, but even that is a wasted emotion on such a selfish bastard.

I wish Shamina was still here. I miss you.


- Karen, 25, consultant

[Identities have been changed.]

First Thoughts on AIDS

"Two years ago I had the opportunity to go to Thailand, Khon Kaen for an overseas project. Then, AIDS was something I knew of as a disease that had to be 'cured' by revolutionary discoveries in medicine. No treatment, no cure, right?

I was so wrong.

Medical assistance is one thing, but loving and caring for them like any other human being is what they desire most. People commonly tend to shun AIDS/HIV patients for all the stereotyped reasons, and it was there that I learnt that it was quite the opposite. Many of those inflicted had no choice in the matter, or were 'betrayed' (so-to-say) by the spouses whom they love. Even more heartbreaking are those who force themselves into the sex industry in order to support their family back home. In fact, many are not educated enough in AIDS to know how to avoid it. They are victims of their own circumstance, and me having pre-conceived notions about them was further adding salt to their injuries.

The situation at home in Singapore is not much different either. Just because people prefer to keep these issues under wraps doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I don't know much about AIDS itself, but I would like to learn more and see how we can help them. Discovering that you have AIDS is definitely not an easy journey to overcome, can you imagine how much more painful it would be if you find yourself unable to turn to the people you have around you for fear of unfair judgement? Won't that make dealing with the blow so much more tough?

I feel that if we open our eyes, and most importantly our hearts, we'd be able to alleviate significant grief and pain in their situation. Especially so for those who are innocent. We have the capacity to do it, if only we are willing to take that first step forward."

- Wee Yeong Wei, 18, Student