Constructing Africa as HIV/AIDS Original Epicenter

Abstract

Africa has long been considered the epicenter of the Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic. Therefore dealing with the pandemic crisis of HIV/AIDS is a continuous objective of the World Health Organization (WHO) and global communities.

Accordingly, with the HIV/AIDS epidemic affecting Africa, WHO and global constituents are spotlighting prevention strategies towards containing and eliminating this disease. One result of global attention, however, is the perpetuated belief that Africa is and always has been the original epicenter for HIV/AIDS. Yet the first recognised epicenters were European countries and the United States of America.

Through narrative analysis, this paper examines artifacts (e.g. newspapers, magazines) that perpetuate stereotypical believes that Africa was and continues to be the original epicenter for HIV/AIDS.

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, an epicenter is "the earth directly above the focus of an earthquake" or "A focal or central point" (p. 456). Consequently, the word epicenter has connotations of disaster because of its association with earthquakes and for that reason calls up visions of destruction and/or death.

Therefore, one could argue, that to be considered an epicenter of an epidemic is to be considered at the center of death. Radio, television and print media use words such as epicenter that convey the destructive capabilities of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Consequently, mixing the HIV/AIDS virus with the word epicenter conjures up these types of images. As a result "there is a need to unpack the meanings of the more embedded narratives that are either shaped by or explain the construction of the AIDS/HIV mainstream media narratives" (Bardhan, 2001, p. 222).