Letter from the editor

The final issue of AAAO

AIDS Analysis Africa (AAA) has a long history and has been through several formats and custodians over the years, although its mandate to provide well-researched in-depth information about the impact of the HIV epidemic in southern Africa has never wavered. It began life in 1990 as a 12-page printed journal which was distributed to interested parties in the non-profit, scientific, public and private sector by a London-based newspaper. In 1997, as large corporates in southern Africa were becoming aware of the impact of AIDS-related mortality in the workplace, Metropolitan Holdings, a financial services provider, took over responsibility for the publication. AAA was very much in line with the company’s commitment to helping disseminate accurate and practical information about HIV and AIDS. The focus of AAA shifted to analysing the impact of the epidemic on business and society and the various responses that were being implemented to address these impacts.

In April 2004 Africa AIDS Analysis Online (AAAO) was launched as a bi-monthly electronic newsletter, hosted and archived on the Red Ribbon website (www.redribbon.co.za). The distribution list grew exponentially under the editorship of Gillian Samuels from Metropolitan AIDS Solutions. I took over in January 2006 and AAAO received a further makeover. It was decided that each issue would thereafter focus on a particular theme and we started with the then controversial topic of treatment. Articles by specialists in each field were commissioned for the newsletters and AAAO’s reputation as a valuable and, in many cases, original resource on the socio-economic impact of the epidemic continued to grow.

In 2009 the Metropolitan Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation, was established. The Foundation took over the management of Metropolitan’s Red Ribbon and Live the Future projects, as well as AAAO. However, as there are now other excellent websites and newsletters that comprehensively cover the socio-economic impact of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, it was decided to change AAAO into a Live the Future electronic news bulletin. I therefore regret to inform you that this will be the last edition of AAAO.

The Live the Future model is a practical intervention strategy that aims to mobilise leadership and communities from all sectors with a view to empowering and inspiring South Africans in their fight against HIV and AIDS. The Metropolitan Foundation is taking the Live the Future model to communities and organisations in need through the use of highly skilled facilitators. The Live the Future news bulletins will document the rollout out of this programme within the Western Cape and beyond. Live the Future workshops are free of charge and can be requested by any organisation or community which would like to address socio-economic or health-related problems. For more information visit the website on www.livethefuture.co.za or e-mail us on info@livethefuture.co.za.