Healthy HIV

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  Pretoria, South Africa
Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Last week I had an HIV test. The Department of Health came to offer all people in the park couselling and a test. I decided to have one. Last year I had a needle stick injury while working at a diptank. Although that is not one of the main transmission worries for HIV, the needle had been reused by many people on many animals. It was a lesson in how easy it is to be stupid. So although my risk was very minimal, I figured I should be safe to be sure.

I must admit to feeling nervous. I promised myself that if the result was not as expected that I would change my life immediately. I would travel and see as much as I could. I would be a societal drop out - the same as if I should win the lottery.

So after the rapid test and questionnaires were given, on a field in a park, I was congratulated for being negative, given a certificate and a badge, and away I walked, greeting all the other people that I knew there

Dr. Tshabalala-Msimang

. It's also good that they saw me take part. The more awareness and transparency about disease the better.

So anyway, today an article was published on the BBC news website, talking about ARV roll out in South Africa and how food alone will not help you defeat AIDS. At least it is now 'scientifically proven', although I think common sense should bring most people to this same conclusion. Good nutrition obviously is important in maintaining a healthy body, but alone it is not enough.

Here is the article, coutesy of http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6959205.stm
Food 'no substitute' in HIV fight
By Peter Biles
BBC News, Johannesburg



The government now highlights nutrition as well as drugs
Scientists in South Africa say they have found no evidence that healthier eating is a substitute for medical drugs when treating HIV/Aids and TB

Vegetable health.

.

This follows an exhaustive study on the links between nutrition and treatment.

South Africa's health minister has faced ridicule in the past for stressing the benefits of beetroot, garlic and potatoes in fighting HIV.

South Africa has one of the world's highest HIV infection rates and has increased the rollout of Aids drugs.

Controversy

The researchers say that scientific evidence about conditions in South Africa was urgently needed.


Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was dubbed "Dr Beetroot" for her views

The report by the Academy of Science of South Africa concludes that no food has been identified as an effective alternative to appropriate medication in fighting HIV/Aids and tuberculosis.

It acknowledges that nutrition is important for general health, but is not sufficient to contain either the HIV/Aids or the TB epidemic.

It says a well-fed population on its own will not resist HIV/Aids without anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs.

Controversial Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has been criticised for over-emphasising the importance of nutrition, and under-playing the role of ARVs.

But the government has now adopted a comprehensive approach and about 280,000 people were on ARV treatment at the end of March this year.

However, that is still well short of the estimated 800,000 who are thought to need ARVs in South Africa.

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