A.I.D.S (Press, 3 March 1988)

In a letter to the editor dated February 27, 1988, Bert Walker criticises the Labour Government of New Zealand for focusing on issues such as nuclear disarmament, nuclear ships, and sanctions against South Africa, while neglecting the reality of the AIDS epidemic that is impacting the nation. Walker highlights the severe nature of AIDS, likening its threat to that of the historical "Black Death." He notes that AIDS was initially referred to as G.R.I.D. (Gay-Related Immunodeficiency Disease) before its name was changed as part of efforts to support homosexual law reform. According to Walker, the "N.Z. Health" magazine reported that by the end of 1987 there were 51 reported cases of AIDS in New Zealand, with 21 of these resulting in death. He cites estimates from the World Health Organisation, stating that there are approximately 100,000 AIDS cases globally, with half of those individuals having died. He expresses concern about the situation in Uganda, suggesting that an entire generation is at risk. Furthermore, he references dire predictions that up to 90 percent of Africa's black population could succumb to the disease within a decade and that the situation in the Pacific region is also catastrophic. Walker urges the Labour Government to shift its focus from its current concerns to confront the more pressing and deadly epidemic of AIDS, emphasising the need for action against this public health crisis.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand