A recent study by the South Africa's University of Cape Town (UCT) suggests that very few southern Africans believe HIV/AIDS should be the top priority for government action.
CSSR said while HIV/AIDS was the second most frequently cited problem in Botswana, it was only in fifth place in South Africa and Namibia - way behind job creation.
"The pandemic is superseded in most countries by demands for government action to create jobs, expand the economy, reduce crime and raise security levels," CSSR said.
However, CSSR said the regional governments must accept that HIV/AIDS will worsen poverty, slow economic growth and burden already weak healthcare systems.
To access the full report:
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/cssr/papers/wp11.pdf
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