Employee Wellness Consultant, Motivational Speaker and Specialist Wellness Trainer

1 November 2011, a new beginning with new and exciting prospects awaiting me as I embark on my own and start my own employee wellness consultancy.
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Brief Historical outline of HIV and AIDS – South Africa.

Introduction:


An estimated 5.6 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country. It is believed that in 2009, an estimated 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS. Prevalence is 17.8 percent among those aged 15-49, with some age groups being particularly affected. Almost one-in-three women aged 25-29, and over a quarter of men aged 30-34, are living with HIV. HIV prevalence among those aged two and older also varies by province with the Western Cape (3.8%) and Northern Cape (5.9%) being least affected, and Mpumulanga (15.4%) and KwaZulu-Natal (15.8%) at the upper end of the scale.

Marking a welcome change from South Africa's history of HIV the South African Government launched a major HIV counselling and testing campaign (HCT) in 2010.

By raising awareness of HIV the campaign aims to reduce the HIV incidence rate by 50 percent by June 2011.

History:

1982 – The first HIV infections were diagnosed in South Africa in two white, homosexual flight attendants who had travelled to the United States. This lead to the belief that HIV was largely a white, homosexual disease in SA, as was the case in the US and Europe. As a result, the homophobic apartheid government, which was in power at the time, disregarded the health risk and ignored the issue.

1987 – The first black South African was diagnosed with AIDS-related illness.

1990, Chris Hani, chief of the ANC guerilla force (known as ‘Spear of the Nation‘) said, ‘Those of us in exile are in the unfortunate situation of being in the areas where the prevalence is high. We cannot afford to allow the AIDS epidemic to ruin the realization of our dreams. Existing statistics indicate that we are still at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in our country. Unattended, however, this will result in untold damage and suffering by the end of the century.' Chris Hani was tragically assassinated shortly before democracy was achieved.

1991 – Heterosexual HIV infection rates equalled homosexual ones. (Heterosexual infections has since become the main mode of transmission of the virus in SA)

Coinciding with the turbulent political period, HIV and AIDS started to gain national public interest though it is not difficult to understand why all energy was focused on deciding South Africa’s political fate seeing the need to address a complex and tough negotiation process needed to end apartheid.

1992 – ( a decade after the 1st reported case), a group of political parties, trade unions, academics, business organisations and civil society groups formed the National AIDS Coordinating Committee of South Africa (NACOSA).

1994 – South Africa’s first democratic elections, and the ANC Government adopted a National AIDS Plan – but the scheme hardly translated into action.

Scandals: - made situation worse!

Sarafina II – A musical screenplay which was supposed to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS was judged widely to be beside the point and confusing. The government funded play used large amounts of unapproved European Union money.

Virodene - South African Government caused worldwide embarrassment when it committed millions to medical trails of an antiviral drug Virodene. Virodene was found to contain a toxic industrial solvent.

1998 – Aids Activists and researches called for the scientifically approved drug AZT to be administered to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child. ANC turned down this call arguing it would rather focus on education and prevention campaigns then treatment.

HIV-positive AIDS activist Zackie Achmat formed the TAC in December 1998.

1999 – Newly elected president Thabo Mbeki appointed Manto Tshabalala-Msimang as health minister, heralded an even stronger stance against antiretroviral drugs. Mbeki’s questioning if HIV causes AIDS adding to the conflict between organisations like the TAC.

2001 – Death of presidential spokesperson Parks Mankahlana, Official ANC statement reported that his death was due to heart failure after a long illness. When the SA media speculated that his illness was AIDS related, it sparked heated national debate on the ethics of HIV reporting, including objectivity, privacy.

Court Cases

2002 – The TAC and Children’s Rights Centre filed a court motion and later a constitutional claim against the health minister and provincial MEC’s to compel them to make Nevirapine available to women giving birth in state hospitals. The court ruled in favour of the TAC in 2001 and again in July 2002.

2003 – TAC focuses shift to pushing government to roil out ARV treatment through the public Health system. When health minister refused to sign a draft national treatment plan, the TAC launched a civil disobedience campaign. More than 10,000 people protest in front of parliament during Mbeki’s State of the Nation address.

19 November 2003, Cabinet finally announces the health department would make available ARVs to all who need them.

2004 – 2005 Rollout of ARVs slow with treatment guidelines only being issues in September 2004 and supplies of ARVs only being selected in March 2005.

2006 - Tshabalala-Msimang insists that a healthy diet and nutritional supplements, including garlic, beetroot and the African potato, could offer an alternative to ARV treatment. Stephen Lewis, publicly slated Tshabalala Msimang’s statements at the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto Canada. At the same conference, AIDS law Project leader Mark Haywood demanded that the health minister be fired.

Tshabalala-Msimang was hospitalised in late 2006 and her deputy Nozizwe Mandlala-Routledge with Deputy President Phumzilie Mlambo-Ngcuka made major steps to bring back the reputation of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), attempting to repair the damaged relationship with civil society organisations, particularly the TAC.

2007 – Government launched its progressive HIV and AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for SA 2007 – 2011, indicating a shift in its health policy. Its main objective being to provide ARV treatment to 80% of people who need it and to half new HIV infections by 2011.

Later that year Mbeki sacked Madlala-Routledge, allegedly because she was too critical of her predecessor and himself. Tshabalala-Msimang was reinstated resulting in the newly built bridges between the department of health and civil society groups quickly crumbling yet again.

2008 – Tshabalala-Msimang finally lost her post to Barbara Hogan in September 2008. Hogan’s term was short lived despite her popularity and commitment to cooperate with civil society.

2009 – Newly elected president Jacob Zuma appointed a previously little-known politician Aaron Motsoaledi to the position of health minister. Aaron Motsoaledi has so far made a number of positive statements, showing intention to tackle the epidemic and improve health services provision.

2010 - For the first time in the history of the South African epidemic, a real properly resourced HIV testing campaign was launched. Minister of Health Dr. Aaaron Motsoaledi is leading the largest every HIV testing drive on the continent with a target to test 15 million people by June 2011

References:


Kirsten Palitza, Natalie Ridegard, Helen Struters and Anton Harber “What is Left Unsaid” Published by Fanele an imprint of Jacana Media (PTY) Ltd on behalf of the Anova Health Instutute, in 2010


Fidel Hadebe, Vukani Mnyandu; Department of Health, 22 Feb 2011


Center for Law and Social Justice, Minister Aaron Motsoaledi delivers — 15 million people to be tested. Get tested. Prevent HIV. Get treated. Always use a condom!


Professor S Karim, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban 4041, South Africa, International Epidemiological Association 2002


Sher R. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the RSA. S Afr Med J 1986


http://www.avert.org/history-aids-south-africa.htm

June 5, 2011 will mark 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported

June 5, 2011 will mark 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the US. Over the next few weeks I will feature articles, press releases, historical time lines etc as we looking back at the past 30 years.


Key would be a focus of the South African response (or mostly lack of response) and in particularly the effects that stigma and intolerance towards those affected by HIV and AIDS have had on our ability to respond appropriately over the past 3 decades, both internationally and in South Africa.

30 years later one has to reflect back and assess both the failures to respond effectively but also to highlight milestones and successes in the collective consciousness of mankind to respond to the news of a new “deadly CANCER discovered that affects homosexuals”, in June of 1981 in the US.

The first case of HIV infection in South Africa was reported in 1982 and this heralded the start of the first wave of the HIV epidemic.

In 1990, Chris Hani, chief of the ANC guerilla force (known as ‘Spear of the Nation‘) said, ‘Those of us in exile are in the unfortunate situation of being in the areas where the prevalence is high. We cannot afford to allow the AIDS epidemic to ruin the realization of our dreams. Existing statistics indicate that we are still at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in our country. Unattended, however, this will result in untold damage and suffering by the end of the century.' Chris Hani was tragically assassinated shortly before democracy was achieved.

At times as we reflect back we will need to remind ourselves of the hard facts of intolerance, and ignorance but mostly importantly it will allow us to raise our collective voices as we remind ourselves of the accomplishments in the past 30 years, and to honour all those who have died from the disease.

Focus on the positives and lets make this World AIDS Day "AYOBA"

Published in the 2010 World AIDS Day edition of The Ripple Effect.

Written by: Alan Brand (Guest Editor)

At a recent conference I was asked by a delegate why after so many years and after so much manpower, money and investment, medically, emotionally and scientifically we are still not stemming the tide of HIV and AIDS. It must be mentioned that the person who asked the question is very active in the fight against HIV and has dedicated her time and efforts to educate and assist those infected by the disease. It was with a sense of exhaustion and from being emotionally overwhelmed that she asked the question. I do not believe that I was ready to answer the question at the time, but already a seed was busy germinating in my mind and heart, one which I have not been able to express fully until now. It seems that this concept has finally come to fully blossom and IT IS AYOBA!

Consider the sense of goodwill, joy and wellbeing experienced and expressed during the 2010 World Cup by both South Africans and the international guests. Even the prophets of doom and gloom had to bite their tongues and concede that their predictions had failed and we had achieved something to be truly proud of. Not only did serious crime incidence drop in South Africa during the world cup but this was the experience around the world.

Here are some quotes proving the effects that the positive energy had in South Africa and internationally:

Nepalese capital Kathmandu recorded a drop in crime and accidents since the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ - police recorded 156 incidents of crime in the month of June, compared with 497 reports during two weeks preceding the tournament, Kantipur newspaper reported.

The Business Consumer Index (BCI) rose by 2.8 index points to 84.8 points in June, says the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ tournament raised positive sentiment domestically and internationally. The success of the tournament could boost domestic business confidence despite indications that the global economy may suffer a depressed economic outlook for the medium term," said the Chamber. (Sacci)

The total number of foreign tourists to South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ might be close to 400 000, says consultancy Grant Thornton, with higher than expected African air arrivals and huge numbers from countries whose teams did well contributing to the figure.

Now consider the reality of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and how easy it is to fall into the trap of becoming a profit of doom when we focus on the statistics and history of the epidemic. How much energy have we spent on promoting the negative, highlighting our failure to stem the tide and putting the spotlight on the lack of political will, slow implementation and access to treatment and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and AIDS? I can go on and on and on and IT IS NOT AYOBA. No wonder that all this negative messaging contributes towards a sense of hopelessness and inadequacy in the collective and individual conscience of all South Africans and for that matter the entire sub-Saharan African region.

From the point of view that recognises the basic “laws of attraction” that operates within each person’s life and the universe as a whole is it at all not surprising then that these negative messages have acted as a “magnetic field” influencing the effectiveness of HIV and AIDS awareness and interventions to date?

The time has come to stop the negative energy and messages around HIV and AIDS as surely by now we must be aware that it has not been a successful tool in preventing the spread of the epidemic. I believe that all it has done is make people, institutions and governments feel so overwhelmed that the only possible response is one of denial, apathy and inactivity.

The South African CAPRISA presentation received a standing ovation (a rare medical conference occurrence) at the 2010 World AIDS Conference in Vienna for its study on the tenofovir gel spermicide. Another hot conference topic was test-and-treat as a public health method for curtailing the pandemic resulting in many attendees of the 2010 World AIDS Conference headed home feeling optimistic about the future of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

South Africa has the largest number of people accessing ARV’s in the world. It is further estimated that 2.3 million life-years have been added due to introduction of antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa during 1996–2008

Indications are that, between 2006 and 2010, South Africa is experiencing the plateau of the HIV curve with positive indications, that this trend will continue and a reduction in new infections will be a reality of the future.

By emphasising the successes and the reality that we have not yet been defeated, we can and will be victorious in the war against the HI virus. We no longer need to be pessimistic and in tribute and honour to the many that have died we owe it to our children and the future to rise above the “can’t do attitude” and boldly raise our hearts and minds as we spend energy and our collective intellectual capacity to a united, focused political will as we continuing the positive achievements. 2010 has the potential to herald a new era of innovation in fighting the virus.

On a personal note, working with Positively Alive©, a support group for HIV positive men in South Africa, I can testify that members, including myself, in the past did not consider a future and the potential of growing old, they are having to reconsider their futures as with access to treatment and care they are not only living healthy full and complete lives with HIV but are able to engage in relationships without putting others at risk of infection and have to consider the real possibility that they have the potential to reach all and any future dreams and aspirations. AND THAT IS TRULY AYOBA!

I had a dream

It is the year 2030 and I am old and grey and I am sitting in my lounge as a retired old man. My grand children are sitting playing on the carpet while I am watching the History channel on cable television. A programme is about to start and the channel runs an advert about a deadly disease that began in the late 70’s and early 80’s and caused the death of millions of people around the world. The advert mentions the virus responsible as the Human Immune Deficiency virus which caused a syndrome called AIDS.

My granddaughter looks up at the TV listening to advert and turns to me and asked. Grandpa, she says, what is AIDS? I smile and begin to try to explain how when I was a young man the world faced a deadly disease and how in the beginning mankind’s response to this virus was so poor that it had to reach epidemic proportions before individuals, scientists and medical experts began to rally together to stop the spread of the virus. My youngest grandson listening to the discussion looks up and asks, but Grandpa where is AIDS now? And with a smile and pride in my heart I answer we beat it my boy.

Now consider this, when you are old and grey will you be able to answer your grandchildren as I could in my dream or will you have to hang your head in shame and tell them that through intolerance, with judgment and stupidity when you where young you did not take the action required, make the changes you needed and so we are still facing the biggest medical challenge of mankind’s history due to a lack of political and person will to create an HIV and AIDS free future for your grandchildren.

As Published in the Ripple Effect World AIDS Day Edition 2010.

My visit to Marsh Memorial Homes

While visiting Cape Town in June 2010, I decided it was time for me to visit the orphanage my brothers and I were placed in back in 1963 when I was four years old. My father was unable to look after three boys and work and in those days’ day- care-centres where few and far between. The decision to place us in an orphanage being made due to the fact that my mother had passed away from a very sudden and unexpected heart attack.

The gate house and entry to Marsh Memorial Homes

I write about my experience of the home in the blog entitled “The boy that loved Rabbits – Facing my shadows” … to read the story follow this link: THE BOY THAT LOVED RABBITS

The Brand boys from top to bottom, Peter, Alan

and Gary Brand on the steps of Eveleigh House

I had mixed feelings about visiting the home and was pleased to see the gates open and a welcoming board indicating the directions to the reception area.

View of the gate house from inside the property.

I was welcomed by one of the staff and given the opportunity to explain my reason for the visit. I had called some months earlier and was aware that the home now has changed from an orphanage into a safe haven for abused children or children needing special care. I asked if I would be allowed to walk around explaining that the visit was mostly for me to face some of the shadows of my past and to allow me to take some photos for my blog page. I explained what work I now do and how in some small way the experiences both bad and good at the home as a small boy of 4 years old had helped to shape and form the man that now stood boldly in the reception of Marsh Memorial Homes. Now I must mention that the building now used for the reception area and offices used to be the principles home when I was resident at the home and it was a total no enter area. The stately building with the most amazing stain glass windows, grand wooden staircase leading up to the second floor still appeared both majestic and filled me with a sense of dread. Yet the friendly staff and openness and welcoming attitude made all these feelings fade into the normality of the sunny warm day in June. In had promised to make sure that no children where in the photos I took and with the feeling of a warm welcome in my heart I stepped out into the grounds to see where this journey would take me.

The reception and office - (previously the principles home)

I walked around the grounds unable to go to close to the huge red roof building with its 8 chimneys, that was the home I lived in sharing a huge hall type room with the many other boys so many years ago. The building next to this one had burnt down many years ago and the rabbit hutch and fruit orchards behind this building had been rezoned and sold and now filled with residential housing. The home also no longer has a school as was the case when it was an orphanage as the children currently in its care attend local schools. I started sub A (now grade 1) although during this year (1962) of my life my father remarried and we were removed from the orphanage and I continued with my first year at school in Parow Primary.

The residential building I was housed in as a child

I remained satisfied to take pictures of the buildings from the outside allowing the memories to flood over me.
• The white bread served with cold milk and white sugar as a special treat on Sunday morning for breakfast.
• Rabbits in a rabbit hutch also locked into cage reminding me that I felt no different than a caged rabbit.
• A loving kind senior boy that had taken me under his wing and became my protector while living at the home.
• A tree house in the fruit orchids,
• A pray mantis on the railing of the sanctuary one morning at service praying with me for my mother.
• Cookies my little brother (1 year old) baked at creche and stored for us as a special treat.
• Cold winter nights in a hall lined by rows of beds filled with sleeping boys and yet loneliness and tears.
• And many, many more

Residence - Marsh Memorial Homes

It was only later that day when on the plane flying back home to Johannesburg that I suddenly realised why the experience of my visit to March Memorial Homes was a pleasant one and why it has now become part of my journey of healing. I was totally free to enter and leave of my own free will. The gates of the beautiful gate house that has stood the test of time remained open. I cannot even remember if they were closed and locked when I was a child (I guess they must have been). The reality that I was placed there without knowing why or understanding why my mother was not coming back to care for me or ever visit me obviously has had a profound impact on my feelings about the home. The short visits on Sundays by my father after church and the pain of his departure and his abandonment of me lie somewhere deeply buried in the fabric of my heart. The memories of attending church services in the chapel on the premises are always filled with both joy and pain. Joy that perhaps my dad might visit us and the pain that he would leave us behind again.

The chapel at Marsh Memorial Homes

Now I could feel the warmth in the sun and the building no longer seemed dark and like a place to lock children up from society. I had a feeling of freedom of an institution now reaching out to children that have been abandoned or abused by their parents finding a place of love and safety.

Able to participate in society by attending school and with gates wide open welcoming rather than gates locked separating and removing.

I shall have to visit the home again and the next time I wish to become a contributor to the many needs they have in supporting and caring for children in need.

View across to the other residence - Marsh Memorial Homes

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MARSH MEMORIAL HOMES

FOCUS AREA:

Marsh Memorial Homes strives to be recognized as a leading multicultural child and youth care centre in the Western Cape. Whilst affirming and including children of different cultures, all activities at the centre will be driven by strong Christian principles. The range of activities offered will be holistic, and will focus on the needs of the children at risk and their families, offering them hope and empowering them to contribute towards healthy and functioning communities.

THEY NEED:

Bedroom furniture and bedding
General furniture (lounge suites, dining room table and chairs, study desks)
Working second hand computers
Kitchen appliances, crockery and cutlery
Camping equipment
Gazebos (to be used at our fete day)
Clothing and shoes (ages ranging from 4-18 years)
Carpets
Food Parcels
Stationery
Sport equipment
Bibles (English/Afrikaans/Xhosa)
Church youth groups willing to arrange an activity or out for the children.
Volunteers to assist a child/children with a certain subject or homework.
Educational toys
Educational software/programmes
________________________________________

Marsh Memorial Home for Abused Children - Western Cape, Cape Town, Rondebosch

Non-Profit Organisation Registration Number: 011 270

The home now accommodates 60 boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 11.

Established: 1901

Kindly contact Marsh Memorial Home for Abused Children directly for banking details.

Heather B Goble 021 689 9301/2

084 624 2365 021 686 4501

Norton Way, Off Milner Road, Rondebosch P O Box 9, Rondebosch, 7701

heather@marshmemorial.org.za

Mindfulness

Buddhism means a commitment to the practice of mindfulness.

It's the practice of opening oneself up and being receptive to the flow of sense perceptions, emotions, and thought processes in each given moment while attempting to hold judgment in abeyance. This is done with no other goal than to be as present as one can possibly be within each and every moment. One does this with an intimate attention that is very different from a scrutinizing, objective stance.

Rather than being a distant observer of a set of experiences, one is a participant-observer, and what one observes is not only the sense impressions of the "outside" world, but also one's own subjective reactions to that world... In these moments of unimpeded awareness there is a wonderful sense of lightness of being, and a sense of the rightness to things just as they are.

In these moments when the sense of a separate self that needs defending, approval, status, or justification is nowhere evident, one is open to being present and responsive to the world in a deeply caring way. This is what I mean by mindfulness: seeing events as they are with minimal interference from a separate ego that needs to control both self and world; being intimately in touch with the moment as it is, and open-heartedly responsive to it.

Experience in Being Mindful – Ixopo Buddhist Retreat 23 to 25 April 2010

While at the Ixopo Buddhist retreat we went on a walk through indigenous forests and eventually arrived at a grassy knoll. We climbed over a fence and soon reached an outcrop of rocks that provided a vista of the valley below. While everyone looked into the distant valley, I peered between the rocks and notice a very insignificant spray of white flowers growing between the crevices of the rocks. I lay down on my stomach to observe the flower.

The Buddhist teacher who was our guide on the walk saw me lying face down on the rock and peering into the abyss below and asked if I was ok… (I guess it might have looked like I was throwing up over the cliff). I responded, “I am being mindful of a flower”. She smiled a gentle smile similar to Buddha’s smile. “What have you learnt from the flower?” she asked.

As I had my camera with me I replied that I could show them that I had discovered that even an insignificant white flower has a spectacular landing strip to attract insects. “It just shows that when one is silent and observant even the most insignificant being can reveal incredible beauty”, I said. Nothing more nothing less it just is so, in the silence of being mindful I learnt again to appreciate that which was right there in front of me. It had always been there it had not changed or become more than it was before what had changed was my ability to take the time to be mindful of the beauty it waited to reveal.