Why corruption is never listed among drivers of HIV/AIDS

Our discussion today may sound like is an attempt to link corruption and HIV and AIDS.
Even though they may be some links but this piece of work is an endeavour to show that not only HIV and AIDS is obstinate but we have other things that are stubborn precisely because they are human behaviour obsessed.
Indeed, the subject is seeking to critically look at corruption and ask questions that with their responses one can learn if HIV and AIDS will ever go down.
The fact that HIV and AIDS epidemic has lasted for this long, since 1986 in Swaziland and earlier in other countries, it shows how stubborn it is. And it is stubborn like corruption which is also said to have existed for many years, more than the 24 years of HIV infection. On the other hand, corruption has shown to be a stubborn infection among populations which reinforces poverty and prevents recovery. Government authorities globally say vigilance, transparency, accountability and good governance are the cures for corruption.
This issue is a sensitive one, Muhle on Weekend will treat it with the sensitivity it deserves. We have learned from the rates of HIV incidence that poverty is a driver of the epidemic and vise versa the epidemic perpetrates poverty. Now as the world focuses on corruption, like never before, on making sure that corruption doesn’t pay, we are learning that corruption is stubborn the same way as HIV and AIDS. Will corruption be approached the same way as HIV and AIDS to make a difference? In the case of HIV and AIDS, no law is used even if one continues to infect many people knowingly. Human rights are cherished more than the human being, even if it is evident enough that a service will protect or help an individual, people still have a choice to opt in or out. Only when some families did not want to take their children to hospital for other infections, that force or maybe cohesion was practised, not in HIV infection.

Defining corruption
Corruption is an outcome of poor governance and may be defined, as the abuse of public position for personal gain or for the benefit of an individual or group to whom one owes allegiance. Corruption occurs when a public official accepts, solicits, or extorts a payment, or when private agents offer a payment to circumvent the law for competitive or personal advantage. Corruption is a two-way process, involving members of both the public and private sector, who are engaged in illegal, illegitimate and unethical actions that diminish a country’s economic prospects and degrade its social and political institutions.

Global menace
Corruption, as observed by one, is a symptom of weakness in political, social, legal and economic systems, for example, when oversight institutions such as parliament, the judiciary and civil society are marginalised or have become corrupt themselves. An effective litmus test to assist in determining the difference between corrupt and non-corrupt actions is whether activities are carried out in an open, transparent and accountable manner. Even where corruption is widespread, its practitioners strive to keep it hidden from public view. Corruption is not new, nor is it confined to any particular part of the world. On the contrary, corruption is a global phenomenon, although its severity varies from country to country a situation observed in HIV and AIDS.
Corruption is a global menace, it is practised in various forms - from miniature bribery to international racketeering, from shady backhanders which seal business deals to the brazen elevation of family and friends. And it’s not confined to the poor or rich.
The trouble with corruption on the other hand, is that it is undermines governance, democracy and the rule of law. It hurts the poorest people most because it takes money away from fighting poverty. It destroys the confidence of investors, raising the cost of doing business and it increases crime and insecurity- creating fertile ground for terrorists, drug traffickers, human traffickers and money launderers.
As economic growth shifts into the reverse, poor households will be increasingly forced to make impossible choices in allocating their scarce resources. This state of life will force parents to bribe so that a sick child can see a doctor or even get medication. Things are scarce these days of corruption and toughs times are expected in the near future as few are observed and go unnoticed or reported.

Religious institutions
Corruption is in all sectors and the church is not spared. If it was HIV and AIDS, a multisectoral approach was going to be adopted to deal with corruption. Let me put things right here, with no doubt, majority of evangelical preachers are well-meaning men and women who serve humanity with dedication and humility.
On the other hand, there is a tiny minority of religious leaders who thrive on exploiting the poor and vulnerable. Religious institutions are as open to abuse and manipulation as state and the corporate world.  The churches accept dirty money which adds fuel to flames of corruption. We all have observed that HIV and AIDS respect no boundaries, is it the same with corruption? It has taken us too long to deal with HIV infection, will corruption take time too to deal with?