South Africa has one of the highest AIDS rates in the world. In a country facing such a dire issue, you would not think its leadership would have been so detached from reality. But, this is exactly what this country has dealt with for years.

A while back, President Thabo Mbeki and his administration caused a firestorm by denying that there was a specific link between HIV and AIDS. Instead of antiretroviral drugs, they proffered that the use of foods such as lemons, garlic and beets could be used instead of drugs.

The bottom line: these are not the actions of a government that wants to deal with its issues.

But, there appears to be hope. It appears that South Africa is finally starting to face reality.

Driving the recent change is a growing realization of the severity of AIDS in South Africa — an estimated 5.4 million of 47 million citizens have HIV, among the highest totals in the world — and concern that the controversy surrounding the disease was damaging the country’s international reputation.

The Treatment Action Campaign, the country’s leading AIDS activist group, said that after years of hostility and legal battles, government officials were working cooperatively with members to realize some of their long-standing demands, such as setting targets for dramatically expanding the availability of antiretroviral drugs through the public health system. Mlambo-Ngcuka, who has taken control of the national AIDS commission, has met privately with the group.

Well, it’s about time. Perhaps the South African government can get down to the business of real AIDS treatment, prevention and education. Lives are in the balance

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