Do you think enough is being done about AIDS awareness?

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I watched Dannii Minogue(sister of Kylie) on a midday chat show the other day.She is now an embassador for HIV/AIDS awareness.
She talked about what they are doing for HIV/AIDS sufferers which is great but at no point did she mention how to minimise the risks of catching/passing on the virus.I think if an interview is going on then surely the prevention method should DEFINATELY be talked about.
To me the ways to catch it are unprotected sex and reusing infected needles.

I also watched a documentary on Prince Harry on his journey to Africa where the infection rates are highest and he helps out with HIV/AIDS sufferers.
It explained that witch doctors(who are respected and listened to in the area) have spread the word that the only way to get rid of the virus is to have sex with young virgins, the younger the better and therefore spreading the disease(this advice fills me with horror).
Again they discussed how they are helping the sick but at no point did they say wether they are trying to squash the witch doctors advice and educate these people how it is prevented.

Im so angry at this!!!
Surely if HIV/AIDS is being discussed on a programme the prevention should be included.
Has anybody any information that shows people of Africa are being better educated?

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I was in Africa this summer doing medical/HIV awareness work and I can tell you firsthand how incredibly difficult it is. The culture in the area where I was is VERY open sexually, infidelity and promiscuity are rampant and expected. People don't want to use condoms- they don't like the way they feel (just like here!) and are reluctant to buy them. IMO, one of the most frustrating parts was the amount of denial. Nearly everyone is having sex, and often at a VERY young age, but there is pressure from the community and the churches we would sometimes go to for education programs to teach abstinence. Fortunately, the kids would come up to us afterwards and ask specific questions that were excellent questions. The basic knowledge about HIV was there for the most part, it was just the means and expectations for implementation that were lagging.

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Did you go as part of your job or educational course?

Its good that at least some people arnt made to feel bad about having sex.
But, absolutely awful that they dont want to help themselves.
I hate that stupid thing of 'I dont like using condoms, I dont like the way they feel'.How lame is that.If they stop you from catching diseases they should bloomin well be used!!!!!

Im surprised condoms arnt free in such highly infected areas like Africa!

Very glad to hear the kids are asking questions.If abstinence is the only way then I hope it works.

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I'm a medical student and went on a volunteer/educational trip. Despite the amount of sex (read it today as the "man's inalienable right to infidelity") there is an equal amount of denial. And it's not always as simple as not wanting to help themselves. There, I heard a story about a group of HIV educators who went into the slums of one city and talked to people there. The people said, "this is the only joy in life we have, and you want to take it away from us?" An interesting point when you consider many people are living in poverty and hunger, dying doesn't take on quite the future-ending proportion when you have lost hope in life. But I digress. As for the condoms thing, it's one thing to say and quite another to practice. I see this, work with it day in and day out, and counsel people about using them but am enough of a hypocrite that I don't always 100% of the time use them. I wish more things were cut & dried.

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Im given you a 'virtual' spanked botty for not using them.spank spank!!

When I look at footage it does look like sex is there only joy in life and it must be awful for them to think they have to 'cut down'.

I cant think how to change there outlook on condoms.

Is it true about what they have been told by witch doctors, written in my original post?

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there's a lot of myths about HIV, and in some areas they do believe that having sex with a virgin will cure it, or that HIV is actually put inside condoms by westerners... where I was, people were pretty well educated, just not *doing* anything about it really.

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This is interesting to me, as I know that HIV/AIDS sufferers in Africa far outnumber the recent Tsunami victims. I have to wonder if even a concentrated effort on raising money, which has been relatively succesful for the Tsunami relief effort would have much effect for AIDS education in Africa, given their lifestyle, and odd beliefs. I'm raising questions to learn more about this, as mutmegs seems to have a lot of hands on experience here.