Who Cares?: AIDS in Africa - Softcover

Hunter, Susan S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1403936153 ISBN 13: 9781403936158

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004

Synopsis

02 To the surprise of many, George W. Bush pledged $10 billion to combat AIDS in developing nations. Noted specialist Susan Hunter tells the untold story of AIDS in Africa, home to 80 percent of the 40 million people in the world currently infected with HIV. She weaves together the history of colonialism in Africa, an insider's take on the reluctance of drug companies to provide cheap medication and vaccines in poor countries, and personal anecdotes from the 20 years she spent in Africa working on the AIDS crisis. Taken together, these strands make it unmistakably clear that a history of the exploitation of developing nations by the West is directly responsible for the spread of disease in developing nations and the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Hunter looks at what Africans are already doing on the ground level to combat AIDS, and what the world can and must do to help. Accessibly written and hard-hitting, Black Death brings the staggering statistics to life and paints for the first time a stunning picture of the most important political issue today.
To the surprise of many, George W. Bush pledged $10 billion to combat AIDS in developing nations. Noted specialist Susan Hunter tells the untold story of AIDS in Africa, home to 80 percent of the 40 million people in the world currently infected with HIV. She weaves together the history of colonialism in Africa, an insider's take on the reluctance of drug companies to provide cheap medication and vaccines in poor countries, and personal anecdotes from the 20 years she spent in Africa working on the AIDS crisis. Taken together, these strands make it unmistakably clear that a history of the exploitation of developing nations by the West is directly responsible for the spread of disease in developing nations and the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Hunter looks at what Africans are already doing on the ground level to combat AIDS, and what the world can and must do to help. Accessibly written and hard-hitting, Black Death brings the staggering statistics to life and paints for the first time a stunning picture of the most important political issue today.

About this title

About the Author

Susan Hunter is an independent consultant who has worked at the highest policy level with world health organizations (UNAIDS, UNICEF, USAID) in Africa over the last 20 years.

Review

"This book opens many new perspectives on what has become the largest epidemic in human history. More importantly, it gives us insight into the human tragedy and triumph that is the daily bread of people and communities in the areas most affected by AIDS throughout the world"--Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS

In this book, global AIDS expert Susan Hunter combines her profound emotional intelligence and her experience in Africa to help us understand the true state of the World that we live in. Her writing is brilliant. The tapestry she weaves is compassionate, grounded in history, and extraordinarily real. She helps us believe that we can create a better world, if we learn to change ourselves to meet the challenges of AIDS and poverty as they confront us in the 21st century."--Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance

"Susan Hunter's book Black Death is the long needed AIDS 101 primer for Joe Q and Sally Public. Buy this book, read it, then give it to ten friends."--Eric Sawyer, Co-Founder, ACT UP New York

"The story of AIDS in the world is ultimately a story about the way the world is. Susan Hunter's insightful and compassionate account of AIDS in Africa brings this truth into compelling focus. A must-read."--Robert Bilheimer, director of A Closer Walk

"This is one of the most important books on AIDS to be published during the last several years. The picture of the epidemic is gripping; more, it's presented in compassionate human terms, and the scientific questions she raises about disease and evolution are quite intriguing. The book is chilling and fascinating in equal measure. It's a splendid read" --Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for AIDS.

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1403936153
• ISBN 13: 9781403936158
• Binding: Paperback