My current blog theme for this class is looking for films or documentaries on various topics that spark my interest. I stumbled across a film called Fire in The Blood on Netflix. This documentary has focused on how HIV/AIDS has affected African countries in the same ways; countries such as Uganda and South Africa.
20-25 million Africans have been killed by HIV/AIDS, suffering one of the most painful deaths. The progression of this disease has been halted by antiretroviral drugs or ARVs. In Europe and North America, the drugs had become readily available and saved the lives of millions. While in Africa, the West had placed patent on the ARVs to prevent any generic drugs from being sold. Mind you, these generic drugs are exactly the same as the patent drugs, just without the brand name. While each pill was produced for a cheap price in Europe and North America, one tablet of an ARV would cost an African up to $40 (South Africa, one of Africa's wealthiest countries earned up to only $68 a week). When journalists and experts asked HIV/AIDS activists why they were against the West sending generic ARVs to Africa, many answered that Africans would not properly use the treatment or the virus would mutate thus spreading to North America and Europe without a proper treatment.
Please take the time to watch this film if you are interested in medicine, international relations, economics, and politics.
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