African Leaders and the Impact of their Actions in HIV/AIDS Awareness

This book is about the impact that African high profile figures have in HIV/AIDS awareness. It talks about the actions of various high profile figures in the wake of the epidemic, and how these actions are covered by the media and received by the public. Based on a case study that has a reference to two African Presidents: South Africa's Jacob Zuma and Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete, it shows how the former stirred a lot of debate from his controversial remarks that taking a shower after unprotected sex minimised chances of contracting HIV, while spearhead an HIV testing campaign that did not get as extensive coverage. The book, therefore, raises some interesting concerns. While we know that the media likes reporting about actions of influential people and provides a platform for that, when these actions are controversial, then the coverage becomes huge. This could mean that while some high profile figures give out messages of denial in light of the epidemic, their actions, although controversial, could actually help more in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. The public gets involved in the debates, and in the end the right answers are provided.