Accountability on World AIDS Day

I am often lead to believe that the power houses of the world are ignorant and have ridiculous beliefs about the way I live in South Africa. When my country change the marriage bill to include same sex couples, the response by people living elsewhere was not that of congratulations, or encouragement, but utter shock... How on earth can South Africa make such a liberal change? South Africa - of all places???

So today, when I realised that it was December 1, and World AIDS Day, I jokingly asked my brother, why do they call it World AIDS Day, it's not like the rest of the world cares...

I can see how ridiculous that seems, here we are, complaining how ignorant the rest of the world is about Africa (how it's an entire continent as apposed to a country) and AIDS, and I was utterly convinced that the rest of the world didn't give a damn about AIDS and HIV

Today, instead of only celebrating a day that encourages the education about, and eradication of AIDS, I am also celebrating an open mind. I am celebrating the death of stereotypes and ignorance. Two things that have helped to fuel the virus that is killing 1200 children each day.

As all South African's will know, we had a very high profile court case this year involving ex-deputy president Jacob Zuma. This man was acquitted of having raped an HIV-positive woman. The rage instilled in me about this alone is indescribable. But this stupid man didn't think that showing his country that rape is acceptable was enough, he then had to explain that he took a shower after having sex with her, to help combat the virus. “It [a shower] ... would minimise the risk of contracting the disease.” Zuma also explained why he had unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman , stating he “had prior knowledge of the risk involved from the work I did with the South African National Aids Council. I knew the risk was minimal."

This man, who, frankly, I am embarrassed a share country with, helped to push back the HUGE steps taken by women's rights, and AIDS education in this country.

Instead of being accountable for his actions Zuma started a belief that the virus can just be washed away. Zuma needs to listen to the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan's World AIDS day message...

"Accountability -- the theme of this World AIDS Day -- requires every President and Prime Minister, every parliamentarian and politician, to decide and declare that “AIDS stops with me”... But accountability applies not only to those who hold positions of power. It also applies to all of us... And it requires every one of us help bring AIDS out of the shadows, and spread the message that silence is death."