Science, philanthropy alone won’t stop AIDS
Solomon Benatar on the World Congress on HIV/AIDS, in the Toronto Star:
Another World Congress on HIV/AIDS has come and gone. Much light as well as passion was generated by scientists, philanthropists, politicians and activists at this meeting. The devastating implications of the pandemic, now in its 26th year, are becoming increasingly apparent.
Despite enormous efforts by individuals, organizations and nations, unmet needs remain great and prospects for controlling the pandemic and reducing suffering remain a long-term hope.
Great faith is placed in our scientific ability to develop and test new drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and to develop effective preventive measures like microbicides and vaccines.
The hope of science, buttressed by generous donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (further enhanced by Warren Buffett) and other philanthropists is promoting an unprecedented avalanche of welcome innovative scientific work aimed at achieving the above goals.
Such scientific work and generous philanthropy are indeed necessary but they are not sufficient. Wise politics that is seriously directed toward the future and not merely toward self-interested and illusory short-term goals is also required … [my emphasis - Nora]
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