South Africa: McCollum Sees Impact of AIDS

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum caught glimpses of hope amid suffering and death as she traveled through South Africa on Friday. "I've been in one orphanage, in Soweto, and it was staggering to walk in and see a whole nursery room full of children who are HIV-positive," said McCollum (D-Minn.). McCollum saw hope in nevirapine, which is administered to HIV-positive expectant mothers and usually prevents the virus from being passed to their babies. "People will walk for miles for access to this drug," she said. "I thought I was prepared for it emotionally, but you just can't imagine what it's like," observed McCollum. "There was a mayor that I met, and when he goes to city council meetings, and they do their planning, they're planning for cemeteries, not for new businesses, not for homes. ... If you drive down a road or an interstate, there are handmade signs up advertising for coffins and tombstones." McCollum's trip was sponsored by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

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