[afro-nets] "Aids quick-fix won't save Africa" - Kilama

[A. Odutola <chpss_abo2@yahoo.com>]

"Aids quick-fix won't save Africa" - Kilama
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In his opinion piece of January 2004, (Aids quick-fix won't save
Africa: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/january/aids.htm)
John Kilama, Ugandan and president of the Global Bioscience De-
velopment Institute argues that the AIDS strategy being contem-
plated by the World Health Organisation, which is to treat 3
million people with HIV/Aids by 2005 "is not sound policy" as it
a "short-term relief (that will be) followed by long-term disas-
ter." Continuing, Kilama said that the WHO proposal to spend
billions of dollars on increasing access to anti-retroviral
drugs, though noble in its intention, may not be the most cost-
effective way to stem the tide of HIV/Aids: it may even be coun-
terproductive. According to Kilama, "reducing the cost and in-
creasing the supply of medicines to the poor is a good thing;
but on its own it is not enough. Nor should it be today's prior-
ity (in Africa). "The roots of Africa's health care crisis run
far deeper and broader than a mere shortage of drugs", says John
Kilama.

Food for thought indeed!


A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo2@Yahoo.com