The Political Economy of AIDS in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is a region devastated by HIV/AIDS. The extent of the epidemic is only now becoming clear, as increasing numbers of people with HIV are becoming ill. In the absence of massively expanded prevention, treatment and care efforts, the AIDS death toll on the continent is set to escalate rapidly. Despite progress being achieved in localized settings, the alarming statistics reflect the continuing failure of advanced countries to mount a response that matches the scale and severity of the African HIV/AIDS crisis. Over and above the colossal personal suffering, the dire social and economic consequences for fragile nation-states are already being felt, not only in health but in education, industry, agriculture, transport, human resources and economies in general. Countries already crippled by drought, poverty, debt, forced migration and civil war must now contend with massive deterioration in child survival rates and life expectancy, the erosion of the economic family base, massive and insupportable demands on health and public services, chronic labour shortages and volatile national security. Through a critical and detailed exploration of specific case studies, this invaluable volume brings together an unparalleled array of international contributors to redefine the political and economic contours of this calamitous epidemic. It examines the impact of the shortfalls in the 'Global Fund' allocation, the slow pace of administrative processing of aid and the weaknesses of institutional responses to the crisis from African countries and their partners in the global health community. It is essential reading for all concerned with public health, epidemiology, HIV/AIDS research, globalization, development, Africa and indeed our shared future. Features include: " Unique assessments of HIV/AIDS and its impact on democracy and governance in African states " Wide-ranging regional and country studies by the foremost thinkers in their fields " Multi-disciplinary contributions from areas including: Politics, Sociology, Public Health and Development Studies " Compelling and convincing evidence, thematic in approach " Innovative and culturally specific insights for long-term planning, care and support

Nana K. Poku, Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley, USA. Alan Whiteside is a Director of Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division, Professor of The University of KwaZulu-Natal, a Leverhulme Professor in the Centre for AIDS Research at the University of Southampton and also a Visiting Professor at the University of Liverpool.

Contents: Introduction: Africa's HIV/AIDS crisis, Nana K. Poku and Alan Whiteside; Responding to AIDS in crisis situations, Alan Whiteside; Legitimate actors? the future roles for NGOs against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, Douglas Webb; Confronting AIDS with debt: Africa's silent crisis, Nana K. Poku; AIDS-related famine in Africa: questioning assumptions and developing frameworks, Alex de Waal; Cultural hazards facing young people in the era of HIV/AIDS: specificity and change, Carolyn Baylies; HIV/AIDS: the Nigerian response, Morenike Folayan; Between State security and State collapse: HIV/AIDS and South Africa's national security, Robert L. Ostergard, Jr. and Matthew R. Tubin; What people really believe about HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa, Alan Whiteside, Robert Mattes, Samantha Willan and Ryann Manning; The HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana: implications for the 'African Miracle', Ian Taylor; Uganda and the challenge of HIV/AIDS, Daniel Low-Beer and Rand Stoneburner; The impact of HIV/AIDS on democracy in Southern Africa: what do we know, what need to know, and why?, Robert Mattes and Ryann Manning; Conclusion, Alan Whiteside and Nana K. Poku; Index.