Not all Africans are suffering malnutrition, or other putative causes
of AIDS offered by denialists and embraced wholeheartedly with
absolutely NO data or data that REFUTES the hypotheses put forward to
date yet they demand exacting and idiotic levels of proof for the most
obvious cause of AIDS, HIV and etc., etc.....
George M. Carter
S. Africa urged to see AIDS as wider crisis: Virus killing people
crucial to society, official says
Reuters NewMedia - August 16, 2004
http://www.aegis.org/news/re/2004/RE040816.html
--------------------------------------------------
GRANDE BAIE, Mauritius - Southern Africa should treat AIDS as a
political, social and economic crisis because it is killing off
people crucial to its development, Malawian President Bingu wa
Mutharika said on Monday.
Almost two-thirds of the world's HIV/AIDS sufferers -- or 25
million people -- live in sub-Saharan Africa, while the southern
African nations of Botswana and Swaziland have the highest
prevalence rates, above 35 percent.
Mutharika, who was elected earlier this year, told an annual
summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that
the region was losing professionals and officials at a rate
faster than replacements could be trained.
"We continue to lose prominent politicians and members of
parliament to the AIDS pandemic," he said.
More resources needed
Some countries, like sparsely populated Botswana, are pulling out
all the stops to halt the spread of the epidemic while others are
doing relatively little. South Africa launched its first program
to distribute life-prolonging antiretroviral drugs early in 2004.
In speeches at the start of the two-day summit, other leaders and
top SADC officials urged action to help the region overcome food
shortages partly caused by perennial droughts, and put more
resources into fighting the HIV-AIDS epidemic.
Prema Ramsamy, who heads the 13-nation political and economic
group, said that although cereal production in SADC was 10
percent higher this year at 24.97 million tons, about 5.4 million
people in the region still needed food aid.
Ramsamy said SADC had re-organized its secretariat -- which
coordinates programs and activities -- in the past four years to
help it spearhead regional development better, but it still
needed more resources.
SADC's new chairman, Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Berenger, said
that while the group had become a credible organ for economic
development, it needed to sharpen its capacity to interact with
and win concessions from other countries.
"Our commitment to the region should therefore be at par with our
engagement in the multilateral trading system if we are to reform
it to our advantage and benefit from trade opportunities," he
said.
Berenger said that as SADC chairman he would try to increase
"cooperating partners" for SADC -- which has mostly relied on
Western aid -- to include China and India.
040816
RE040816
------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2004 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters
shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or
for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters.
AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from
Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, John M. Lloyd
Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from
users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This
article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to
support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you
and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and
neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information
contained on this website, including information relating to
health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational
purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate
form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided
by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always
discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in
treating HIV.
Copyright (c)1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS
are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation
under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of
AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
comments@aegis.org.
Other scientists have also addressed the issues raised above, that
"profound changes in the host immune response may account for the
dramatic
differences in the behaviour of the AIDS epidemic in Africa and in other
developing countries."
In an article in the World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology 11,
135-143, E. Papadopulos-Eleopolus et al, wrote:
"AIDS researchers in Africa, including those from the CDC and WHO, admit
that immune deficiency in Africa has existed for a considerable period of
time and this has not been due to HIV.
"'Tuberculosis, protein calorie malnutrition, and various parasitic
diseases can all be associated with depression of cellular immunity'
(Pearce, R.B. 1986 Heterosexual transmission of AIDS. Journal of the
American Medical Association 256, 590-591. Piot, P. et al.)'
"'A wide range of prevalent (in Africa) protozoal and helminthic
infections have been reported to induce immunodeficiency. (Clumeck, N. et
al: Journal of the American Medical Association 254; New England Journal
of Medicine 310.'
"'Among healthy Africans resident in a non-AIDS area, the numbers of
helper and suppressor lymphocytes were the same in HTLV-III/LAV
seropositive and seronegative subjects... (Biggar, R.J. et al: The Lancet
II, 520-523.)'
"'Africans are frequently exposed, due to hygienic conditions and other
factors, to a wide variety of viruses, including CMV, EBV, hepatitis B
virus, and HSV, all of which are known to modulate the immune system...
Furthermore, the Africans in the present study are at an additional risk
for immunologic alterations since they are frequently afflicted with a
wide variety of diseases, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, and
filariasis, that are also known to have a major effect on the immune
system... (CMV=cytomegalovirus; EBV=Epstein-Barr virus; HSV=herpes
simplex
virus). (Quinn, T.C. et al: Journal of the American Medical Association,
257, 2617-2621.)'"
When "The New Encyclopaedia Britannica" (15th Edition), discusses "immune
deficiencies" it says:
"There are several ways in which the protective mechanisms (of the immune
system) outlined above may fail. Some are inborn, due to genetic defects
in the development of one or more of the cells involved in immune
responses. Others result from infectious agents that damage essential
immune cells. Still others are due to poisons or to drugs administered
accidentally or with the intention of curing or ameliorating other
diseases. In yet other cases, the immune deficiency stems from inadequate
nutrition...
"Severe infections by certain parasites, such as trypanosomes, also cause
immune deficiency, as do forms of cancer, but it is uncertain how this
comes about...
"In countries where the diet, especially that of growing children is
grossly inadequate in respect to protein intake, severe malnutrition
ranks
as an important cause of immune deficiency. Antibody responses and
cell-mediated immunity are seriously impaired, probably due to atrophy of
the thymus and the consequent deficiency of helper T cells. This renders
the children particularly susceptible to measles and diarrheal diseases.
Fortunately, they thymus and the rest of the immune system can recover
completely if adequate nutrition is restored."
In its discussion of "sleeping sickness", "The Oxford English
Dictionary",
Second Edition, says:
"Any of several similar diseases caused by protozoans of the genus
Trypanosoma and transmitted by flies of the genus Glossina, prevalent in
tropical Africa, and characterised by the proliferation of the
trypanosomes in the blood and changes in the central nervous system
leading to apathy, coma, and death."
(We have inserted this definition to explain to the reader some of the
diseases caused by the trypanosomes referred to in the medical texts.)
Pacifici et al describe the effects of 100mg of the "recreational" drug
Ecstacy used by young people at "rave parties". The 17 volunteers
received
one or two doses in a 24 hour period, resulting in a 30% decline in blood
concentration of CD4+ cells within hours of the single dose. The CD4+
levels recovered to their former levels within the subsequent 24 hours.
Among subjects who received two doses of the drug four hours apart, the
decline of CD4+ cells was even more serious, reaching a level of 40%
below
normal. Although a day later T cell levels rose, they did not return to
normal.
(Pacifici R, et al: "Effects of repeated doses of MDMA ('Ecstacy') on
cell-mediated immune response in humans". Life Sciences 2001; 69: 2 931 –
2 941.)
Furthermore, the report claims that the effect of Ecstasy can rise to
deadly levels among people living with AIDS who take protease inhibitors
and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as nevirapine.
In another study, Pacifici et al report on the effect on the immune
system
of the combination of Ecstacy and alcohol, for which they used six
healthy
volunteers.
There was a decline in CD4/CD8 cell ratio due to a decrease in both
percentage and absolute terms of CD4 T-helper cells and a simultaneous
increase in natural killer cells. Alcohol consumption produced a decrease
in T-helper cells and B lymphocytes. The combination of MDMA and alcohol
(ethanol) had the greatest suppressive effect on T cells. Drug treatment
also produced also produced a large increase of immunosuppressive
cytokines.
(Pacifici R, et al: "Acute effects of 3,4 methylendioxymethamphetamine
alone and in combination with ethanol on the immune system in humans". J
Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2001; 296(1): 207-215.)
Put simply, what all this means is that the drug Ecstacy on its own and
in
combination with alcohol suppresses the immune system. It is not
difficult
to see from this that, as with intravenous drug users, prolonged abuse of
this drug alone and together with alcohol, can lead to acquired immune
deficiency. This has nothing to do with HIV!
All the scientific texts we have cited assert that there are many
conditions that cause changes to the immune system, including
malnutrition
and various tropical diseases, themselves a manifestation and consequence
of poverty and underdevelopment. To our knowledge, no serious scientist
has or would question these known and provable scientific truths.
Unfortunately for us, and the scientists, the omnipotent apparatus
denounces these views as being non-conformist and therefore totally
unacceptable. It condemns them as belonging to a school of thought
categorised as "dissident" and genocidal. They must therefore be
suppressed.
This must be done, so they say, to save us, the Africans, from the
HIV/AIDS pandemic and, according to them, the sole cause of immune
deficiency, HIV.
Honest medical science recognises the disastrous impact of malnutrition
on
us as Africans and the rest of the developing countries.
An Indian article (aidscareindia.com) says: (See also: the World Health
Report, 1998):
"Some 40% of the 10 million deaths among under-five children each year in
the developing world are associated with malnutrition...
"Maternal malnutrition is the major determinant of IUGR (intrautrine
growth retardation) in developing countries...
"In Africa... the actual number of malnourished children has, in fact,
risen. In addition, natural disasters, wars, civil disturbances, and
population displacement have all contributed to continuing high rates of
malnutrition...
"Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) constitute the single greatest cause
of
preventable brain damage in the fetus and infant, and of retarded
psychomotor development in young children. It remains a major threat to
the health and development of populations the world over, but
particularly
among preschool children and pregnant women in low-income countries...
"Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major public health problem, and again
the most vulnerable are preschool children and pregnant women in
low-income countries. In children, VAD is the leading cause of
preventable
visual impairment and blindness... In addition, VAD significantly
increases the risk of severe illness and death from common child
infections, particularly diarrhoeal diseases and measles... In
VAD-prevalent countries, pregnant women often experience deficiency
symptoms, such as night blindness, that continue into the early period of
lactation...
"Iron deficiency is the world's most widespread nutritional disorder,
affecting both industrialised and developing countries. In the former,
iron deficiency is the main cause of anaemia. In developing countries, it
is also associated with other nutrient deficiencies (folic acid, vitamin
A, B12), malaria, intestinal parasitic infestations (especially hookworm,
schistosomiasis and amoebiasis), and chronic infections such as HIV...
"Zinc deficiency causes growth retardation or failure, diarrhoea, immune
deficiencies, skin and eye lesions, delayed sexual maturation, night
blindness and behavioural changes...
"Inadequate dietary calcium intake is associated with a number of common,
chronic medical disorders worldwide, including osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease (hypertension and stroke),
diabetes, dyslipidaemias, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, obesity,
and cancer of the colon...
"Outbreaks of beriberi, pellagra and scurvy still occur among the
extremely poor and underprivileged and, not infrequently, in large
refugee
populations...
"Between 30% and 40% of all cases of cancer are preventable by feasible
and appropriate diets, physical activity and maintenance of appropriate
body weight."
The same applies to heart disease and stroke, which accounted for 22% of
deaths in South Africa in 1996.
One third of the annual 55.7 million deaths in 2001 globally, were caused
by heart disease and stroke, with the majority occurring in developing
countries. This is a true "pandemic", propagated by the 'globalisation'
of
risk factors such as cigarette smoking, salty high saturated fat foods,
obesity and lack of exercise.
(NB: in many parts of our country, our soil suffers from zinc deficiency.
This affects the plants grown in such soils, which are part of the
national food supply. In addition, the staple maize meal consumed by the
majority of our people comes out of the milling process completely
denuded
of its nutritional value. Nevertheless, because the religious faith
demanded of us prescribes that we attribute all ill health to the HI
Virus, it is prohibited that any of the foregoing should either be known
or discussed. Any discussion focused on eliminating the zinc deficiency
mentioned above falls victim to the accusation of 'fiddling while Rome
burns.' Terrified of bad publicity, and keen to demonstrate that we are
not fiddlers, energetically and with smiles on our faces, we fan and feed
the fires that are consuming Rome!)
A US-trained physician from Haiti, Paul Farmer, has written in his book
"AIDS and Accusation": (University of California Press, 1993):
"Although repeatedly termed a 'complete mystery' by North American
academics, the epidemiology of AIDS and its silently transmitted
precursor, HIV, is only superficially random. Careful review of existing
data and critical assessment of the validity of certain studies allow us
to conclude that the Haitian epidemic is a tragic but unsurprising
component of a much larger pandemic. In the various theaters of this
international scourge, whether New York or Port-au-Prince, HIV has become
what Sabatier (1988) has termed a 'misery-seeking missile'. It has spread
along the path of least resistance, rapidly becoming a disorder
disproportionately striking the poor and vulnerable... AIDS is far more
likely to join a host of other sexually transmitted diseases – including
gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis B,
lymphogranuloma venereum, and even cervical cancer – that have already
become entrenched among the poor." (Our emphases.)
Not surprisingly, "the Harvard University Gazette" of March 19, 1998
carried an article entitled – "AIDS Epidemic Called Crisis Among Blacks".
The article, written by William J. Cromie said:
"Once considered a white epidemic in the United States, AIDS has now
changed colour.
"From 1985 until 1996, whites accounted for the highest percentage of
AIDS
infections, but the line was crossed in 1996. Cases among whites dropped
from 60 percent of the total in 1985 to about 35 percent in 1997. Among
blacks, cases have almost doubled, from about 25 percent to 45 percent,
in
the same period...
"Henry Louis Gates Jr... summed up the situation this way: 'While blacks
make up only 12 percent of the U.S. population they account for almost
half of the cases of AIDS'...
"The numbers are especially bleak for black women and children... Black
women represent the highest percentage (56 percent) of all AIDS cases
reported among women, and an increasing proportion of new cases (60
percent). Fifty-five percent of new infections with the AIDS virus among
20 to 24-year-olds occurs among blacks.
"Among those between the ages of 24 and 44 years, three times as many
black as white men died of AIDS in 1996. Five young black women died for
every white woman in the same year...
"The CDC also reported that black children currently account for 58
percent of the AIDS cases among newborns, compared to 18 percent for
whites, and 23 percent for Hispanics.
"Most women, black and white, have contracted AIDS either through illegal
drug use (about 45 percent) or heterosexual contact (about 38 percent).
Many of the latter cases are due to having sex with men who have gotten
the disease from contaminated needles.
"CDC statistics show that 22 percent of all AIDS infections among men
were
caused by dirty needles. Black males account for 36 percent of such
cases...
"One in every two blacks has been tested for infection with HIV – the
AIDS
virus – compared with 38 percent of all Americans. Among blacks younger
than 30 years the testing rate is 65 percent. Most of the testing was
done
during the past 12 to 18 months."
As Dr Farmer of Haiti had said, five years before the Harvard article
appeared, whether in New York or Port-au-Prince, HIV has spread along the
path of least resistance, rapidly becoming a disorder disproportionately
striking the poor and vulnerable.
All of this tells us, the Africans, that poverty and underdevelopment are
a major cause of premature mortality and disability among us. We are
confronted by 'the larger pandemic' of poverty and underdevelopment. But
the omnipotent apparatus is intent that we should not know all this. If
we
do, we should discount it as being of no major consequence.
And yet there is a large volume of literature that addresses the
critically important issue of health, poverty and underdevelopment, some
of which we will now proceed to cite.
