Helen Epstein, the author of The Invisible Cure: Africa, the West, and the Fight against AIDS, studied and analyzed the AIDS epidemic in Africa and the different efforts being performed in order to reduce the spread of the disease. She collected this information and composed “AIDS, Inc” a chapter in The Invisible Cure to share her stories and experiences when traveling. Epstein compares campaigns in South Africa and Uganda, which both worked to spread awareness about sexual activity and how rapidly AIDS is spread. Epstein takes notice of the beneficial techniques Uganda used to raise create conversation about the epidemic, however, she also shares about the strategies South Africa used which did not succeed at reducing the disease.
In South Africa, Epstein explains, “The persistent denial of AIDS in South Africa was deeply disturbing… People liked the basketball games sponsored by loveLife. But its programs seemed to me to reinforce the denial that posed so many obstacles to preventing HIV…” (pg. 119). Epstein discusses the loveLife programs created by David Harrison, a South African doctor, whose goal was to change the way young people behave through positivity and self-esteem raising recreational events. However, these programs were not successful at actually influencing South African youth because the experience of AIDS and the direct affect it has was not discussed. While reading this I instantly thought of a passage by Charles Duhigg called “From Civil Rights to Megachurches”. Duhigg describes the influence peer pressure can have when trying to inspire social change. He asserts that when a person is directly affected then he or she will be more passionate about making a difference. I think this idea is extremely important when analyzing the spread of AIDS. Even though the loveLife programs were designed to stay positive, I believe that discussing stories about personal experiences or about people that have suffered from AIDS would make a long standing impact on the youth of South Africa.
Discussing personal experiences and the harsh reality of AIDS was used beneficially when teaching the youth of Uganda about the disease, Epstein explains. Epstein also presents the idea of “social cohesion”, where she describes the role Uganda’s historical roots has had on spreading awareness about AIDS. Social cohesion, or the “tendency of people to talk openly with one another and form trusted relationships”, has created realistic discussions surrounding AIDS in Uganda because more citizens feel strongly about the infected people (pg. 116). Having opening discussions about real issues is a reasonable way to start a passionate movement. Facing the reality of harsh circumstances, instead of turning away from it, is the beginning to massive social change.
