AIDS ‘hits food security’

THE devastating effect of HIV-AIDS and its threat to development was highlighted as a cause of major concern by Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila in her remarks on the National Budget debate in the National Assembly last week.

“HIV-AIDS is a human resource disaster. HIV-AIDS is also a humanitarian crisis.It is, no doubt, a security disaster too,” she said.The former Health Minister said SADC governments were under severe pressure because of human resource shortages and inadequate medical supplies.”Poverty has risen, deaths are rampant, food shortages occur and communities are on their knees,” she said.Amathila said the disease was affecting agricultural production and food security resulting in an “AIDS-induced famine”.The Deputy Prime Minister said that by 2020, 20 per cent of the agricultural workforce in the southern African region would have been killed by AIDS.She warned that the rural economy would collapse if the trend was not reversed.Amathila said now was the time to intensify efforts towards ridding the country from HIV-AIDS.She said the public sector would have to implement workplace programmes as an essential way to sensitise and support workers in addressing HIV-AIDS-related issues.Amathila told fellow MPs that if leaders were not committed to fighting the disease, the realisation of Vision 2030 and overall national development would be an unattainable dream.HIV-AIDS is also a humanitarian crisis.It is, no doubt, a security disaster too,” she said.The former Health Minister said SADC governments were under severe pressure because of human resource shortages and inadequate medical supplies.”Poverty has risen, deaths are rampant, food shortages occur and communities are on their knees,” she said.Amathila said the disease was affecting agricultural production and food security resulting in an “AIDS-induced famine”.The Deputy Prime Minister said that by 2020, 20 per cent of the agricultural workforce in the southern African region would have been killed by AIDS.She warned that the rural economy would collapse if the trend was not reversed.Amathila said now was the time to intensify efforts towards ridding the country from HIV-AIDS.She said the public sector would have to implement workplace programmes as an essential way to sensitise and support workers in addressing HIV-AIDS-related issues.Amathila told fellow MPs that if leaders were not committed to fighting the disease, the realisation of Vision 2030 and overall national development would be an unattainable dream.