John Wilson Carswell papers

Comprises records relating to the activities of the AIDS Unit in South Africa, 1990-1992 and Carswell's research and writings regarding AIDS in South Africa and AIDS more broadly. The archive is arranged into three sections:

Section A contains Carswell's writings and related correspondence regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.

Section B contains papers produced by the AIDS Unit including strategic reports, press cuttings and education programme campaign materials including the "First AIDS Kit".

Section C comprises published material collated by Carswell, including reports, proceedings, journal issues, offprints and press releases concerning the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, the AIDS Unit and AIDS in other countries.

1987-2000

6 boxes, 1 videocassette

Donated to Wellcome in December 2022.

The Aids Unit was set up in the late 1980s within the South African Department of National Health and Population Development in response to the developing HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. It aimed to raise awareness and promote preventative measures. It was headed by a clinical psychologist, Dr Manda Holmshaw.

The Unit developed a National AIDS Strategy and had five objectives:

1. Limit HIV/AIDS transmission in South Africa

2. Reduce the personal and social impact of HIV infection

3. Reduce associated fear and stigma

4. Co-operate with other bodies working to combat AIDS

5. Develop guidelines for the care of persons with AIDS

In order to achieve the objectives, the AIDS Unit developed a communications strategy which aimed to improve AIDS and sexually transmitted disease literacy in the sexually active population, particularly school age children and their parents. One aspect of this was the Unit's AIDS & Lifestyle Education Programme for Teenagers.

In early 1992 the Unit was merged into the main body of the South African Health Department. This was seen by its critics as a downgrading of AIDS prevention at a time when the epidemic was still spreading. In 1992 the National AIDS Programme was launched.

John Wilson Carswell, a Scottish physician, was medical advisor to the AIDS Unit between 1991 and 1992. He resigned in July 1992 after the merger of the Unit into the Health Department. Carswell maintained an interest in the AIDS epidemic in South Africa and continued to collate material and produce papers and talks on the subject.

Created and collated by Carswell and kept in his care after the Unit was closed in the 1990s.