During the end of the 1980s, all AIDS prevention campaigns in Brazil mentioning condoms were automatically vetoed by the Catholic Church. The Church's influence upon the government, however, has decreased over the years such that government pamphlets now carry specific, graphic instructions on how to use condoms. This realistic approach to prevention taken by the government has been implemented even though the Church still refuses to endorse condom use and avoids mentioning them in the context of AIDS prevention. Even though the Catholic Church tries to deny that people, young and old alike, have sex solely for pleasure outside of the confines of heterosexual, marital relationships, it must increasingly face reality even within its own ranks. Even though only one priest has thus far openly declared his HIV status, at least 25 of the 1410 priests in Sao Paolo are thought to have died of AIDS in the last five years, while a senior source in the Church believes that more than 40 priests out of a total 14,000 could be seriously ill; no one knows how many are asymptomatically HIV-seropositive. It is clear that HIV cases identified and suspected thus far among the clergy were the result of sexual activity. In this context, the Church has become less verbally opposed to AIDS prevention campaigns, provides care for the sick without moral condemnation, and tends to support its HIV-seropositive priests.
During the end of the 1980s, all AIDS prevention campaigns in Brazil mentioning condoms were automatically vetoed by the Catholic Church. The Church's influence upon the government, however, has decreased over the years such that government pamphlets now carry specific, graphic instructions on how to use condoms. This realistic approach to prevention taken by the government has been implemented even though the Church still refuses to endorse condom use and avoids mentioning them in the context of AIDS prevention. Even though the Catholic Church tries to deny that people, young and old alike, have sex solely for pleasure outside of the confines of heterosexual, marital relationships, it must increasingly face reality even within its own ranks. Even though only one priest has thus far openly declared his HIV status, at least 25 of the 1410 priests in Sao Paolo are thought to have died of AIDS in the last five years, while a senior source in the Church believes that more than 40 priests out of a total 14,000 could be seriously ill; no one knows how many are asymptomatically HIV-seropositive. It is clear that HIV cases identified and suspected thus far among the clergy were the result of sexual activity. In this context, the Church has become less verbally opposed to AIDS prevention campaigns, provides care for the sick without moral condemnation, and tends to support its HIV-seropositive priests.
The Ngara district of Tanzania has a per capita annual income of less than 1500 Tanzanian shillings (US$3). Burundians and Rwandans have fled to the Ngara and Karagwe districts of Tanzania to escape ethnic violence in their home countries. The entire region of Kagera as well as Burundi and Rwanda are among the hardest hit by AIDS. Local observers have noted a high degree of unprotected sexual intercourse in the Burundian camp and in surrounding villages. Refugees outnumber locals three to one, with members of both groups coming together for sex. Men are even beginning to trade much needed food for sex. The prevalence of unprotected, frequent sex is also expected to rise as Rwandan refugees get settled into their surroundings, but most remain for now too preoccupied with thoughts of lost relatives to think about sex. AIDS along with unprecedented environmental destruction will seriously affect both these host districts in Tanzania and refugees. Safer sex education is urgently needed.
The AIDS program in Bangladesh is keeping a very low profile amid ongoing controversy over AIDS and Taslima Nasreen's book condemning male exploitation through sex. A doctor, Nasreen is also a novelist and women's rights campaigner. She was accused of blasphemy by radical Muslims, a price was put on her head, and she fled the country. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 20,000 people are infected with HIV in the country. The sex industry flourishes, drug use is common with at least 100,000 heroin users, and homosexuality is probably common among young males. AIDS, however, is viewed as a social pariah's disease, and the strictures of Islam are used by some to reinforce the attitude. The fundamentalists are demanding that all foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGO) be expelled from Bangladesh. Although the fundamentalist groups are not too well supported, they are nonetheless outspoken and Prime Minister Zia depends upon them to keep her coalition in power. It is expected that a pullout of the NGOs would slow but not shut down the AIDS program.
The Ngara district of Tanzania has a per capita annual income of less than 1500 Tanzanian shillings (US$3). Burundians and Rwandans have fled to the Ngara and Karagwe districts of Tanzania to escape ethnic violence in their home countries. The entire region of Kagera as well as Burundi and Rwanda are among the hardest hit by AIDS. Local observers have noted a high degree of unprotected sexual intercourse in the Burundian camp and in surrounding villages. Refugees outnumber locals three to one, with members of both groups coming together for sex. Men are even beginning to trade much needed food for sex. The prevalence of unprotected, frequent sex is also expected to rise as Rwandan refugees get settled into their surroundings, but most remain for now too preoccupied with thoughts of lost relatives to think about sex. AIDS along with unprecedented environmental destruction will seriously affect both these host districts in Tanzania and refugees. Safer sex education is urgently needed.
