The Value of Life: AIDS in Africa 2004
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Judy Jackson for CBC’s The Nature of Things
Directed by Judy Jackson
VHS, color, 52 min.
Jr. High - Adult
African Studies, Sociology, Health Sciences, Women's Studies
Date Entered: 01/10/2005
Reviewed by Janis Tyhurst, Reference Librarian, George Fox UniversityThe Value of Life: AIDS in Africa is a sequel to the 2001 documentary, Race against Time: The AIDS Crisis in Africa. It follows Stephen Lewis, the United Nations’ Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS, as he returns to Africa two years later. Lewis visits Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. Of the four, only Uganda addressed the AIDS epidemic early, starting in the 1980s.
The AIDS situation in Africa is very serious. Several African countries have been slow to acknowledge the AIDS epidemic with the result that little to no financial aid is given to treat people who are HIV positive or to AIDS prevention education. Yet the numbers of Africans affected by AIDS continues to grow at a staggering rate. According to the Stephen Lewis Foundation website there are “25 million people between the ages of 15 and 49 living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Fifteen million (58%) are women.”
Lewis focuses on the denial of African governments to acknowledge the AIDS epidemic and the devastating results of this denial, the prohibitive costs of medical treatment for HIV positive Africans, the refusal of pharmaceutical companies to allow the production of inexpensive anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) for Africans, and the current and future effects of the AIDS epidemic on a country’s social and economic situations, especially African women. Lewis uses interviews with African women to put a human face on the tragedy that is presently unfolding in Africa. He is very passionate about the indifference shown by governments and pharmaceutical companies. At times his strong reactions detract from the documentary, yet his grief over unnecessary death and suffering is never in doubt. In fact, Lewis started his own foundation, The Stephen Lewis Foundation, to work with and help fund the grass roots organizations that are trying to make a difference.
This documentary appears to use quite a bit of the first documentary’s footage. The new footage has excellent visual and sound quality. There are some scenes with partial nudity and one scene where students are learning about condom use. While the facts are clearly presented, the documentary seems somewhat fragmented between the different issues that Lewis desires to highlight. At $250 it is a bit on the pricey side, nonetheless, this would be a good addition to any collection that deals with the AIDS crisis in Africa.
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