Roles and approaches for an effective HIV/AIDS response

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the demands made by the HIV/AIDS pandemic on leadership in Africa. The crisis of HIV/AIDS is quite simply the largest challenge facing the African continent today. It has been said5 quite rightly, that combating HIV/AIDS requires the same level of commitment, vision and leadership as fighting a war of independence. This paper examines what sort of commitment, vision and leadership will be required. It concludes: even more is required. The paper considers leadership in its broadest sense. It identifies both the elements of agency required and the structures within which leadership can operate. It looks at the wider political and social systems that constrain possible responses to HIV/AIDS. It analyses opportunities for social mobilisation and public policy formulation and implementation.