During his presentation, Professor Mararike emphasised that HIV prevention, mitigation and treatment interventions driven by programmers, donors and medical practitioners need to be supported by a full understanding of African medical views and practices. Without knowledge of African world views and values, such interventions are bound to meet with challenges and at times, outright failure.   

 

Professor Mararike's main contention is that diseases and almost all forms of ill health are contracted and experienced within a cultural context. He maintained that "no matter how instructive secondary data may be, no matter how accurate official statistics may be, any person who wants to advise on health issues such as HIV and AIDS must understand the cultural circumstances under which the disease or ill-health is caused or is perceived to be caused. Within the context of HIV, the problem is not African cultures, but the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of cultures."

 

"We need to harmonise traditional health delivery systems and western medical systems if we are to successfully prevent and treat HIV within the cultural contexts of southern Africa", said Professor Mararike.