Brazil is my hero

I had to give a presentation today, and my chosen topic was the Brazilian HIV/AIDS Programme. For one simple reason: Brazil is my hero. Brazil is a semi-third world country...right on the border of developed...that at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic had an infection rate comparable to that of South Africa. Today Brazil's infection rate is 0.6%...South Africa's is 25%. Know why? Because Brazil's government totally frikkin' rocks.

They base their healthcare system on one simple principle: People have a right to live. It's a statement that you would think most people would agree with. But when you look at global policy, it's obvious that only some people deserve to live. What are you crazy? Of course vulnerable women, the poor, and homosexuals deserve to die! At least that's what a lot of governments either say or support. The US doesn't come out and make those statements, but do we have the universal right to healthcare? Nope. Does that send a message to the rest of the world? Yup. Crazy-ass Americans is what it says. Our current administration says that making a buck is more important than saving lives. When Brazil started manufacturing their own generic antiretroviral drugs, the US tried to stop them! Luckily, Brazil had a response waiting. I do so love Brazil.

US: Dude! You guys are breaking patent laws by making life-saving drugs for your people! Not cool!

Brazil: Really? That's funny. Because Cipro is a patented drug. And when you guys were afraid that all your postal workers and soldiers were going to be infected with anthrax, you knew you were going to have a Cipro shortage. So, citing the need to protect the lives of your citizens, you broke patent law and started manufacturing Cipro. On a hunch that you might need it. We definitely need antiretrovirals to save the lives of our people. Sounds like a kind of similar situation to us. Soooo, we're gonna go ahead and make it for our peeps. And if there are other drugs that we need from you, you'd better come down on the price. Otherwise we'll just make those on our own too. Um...peace.

Okay, I'm going to stop now, as I'm sure my sister and a couple others will chime in soon. I know Brazil's system has its problems, but the simple fact that they base their healthcare system on a human rights paradigm means that my heart belongs to them. And the fact that they have the balls to go up against the US means that they are total rock stars. We should be so lucky to have a government that cares like that. To read more, check out this article...not very scientific, but so well-written that even a public health layperson can enjoy it. :) Laters!