Communication

[Obsidian]

Bring us your insights into whats going around the world in the fields of science, art, and culture. What's caught your eye this week?
Please, keep your posts short, and to the point. No spam please.

"Nigeria's government will provide all anti-retroviral drugs needed to fight HIV/Aids free of charge within two weeks, a health ministry official says.
Dr Abdulsalami Nasidi told the BBC the government planned to have 250,000 people on the drugs within a year.

After India and South Africa, Nigeria has the most HIV infections at 4m. "
Full link here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4556768.stm

Is free medication the answer to combating HIV/AIDs? I say no. There is no cure for the HIV, only treatment. The article states there are 4 million people infected in Nigeria, a country with a population of about 130 million. Nearly 10% of infants die in their first year, and women average more than 5 pregnancies in their life, impressive since their life expectancy is a mere 47 years (CIA Worldfactbook).
By treating the symptoms of aid, we are merely prolonging death for millions, and accomplishing nothing. Every victim who lives longer gives the disease another vector to spread through. International aid money would be much better spent on attacking the roots causes of HIV spread. Ignorance, superstition and poverty.

[Lestat]

Could you clarify what you want this thread to be?
Because now I (and I suppose I'm not the only one) do not really understand whether you want people to post their news with a short comment or whether you want to have people discuss the article and your opinion of it.

[Obsidian]

Fair point. I'd like to see both. Reply as you see fit, and we can continue conversation on one topic until it seems interest in it runs dry. Or, if you have something pressing in mind, jump in.
Personnally, I find it hard to keep track of international news, and appreciate it when people bring new developments to my attention.