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Crystal_Abongta
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World AIDS Day
October 28, 2003 - 11:41 AM
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Hi folks, I'm taking some time today to write on petinent issues about our world and thus lets get abit general for a while ok...
When HIV/AIDS became known as one of the most threatening world’s pandemic, it was time to mobilize the global community towards a fight against this deadly disease. Many people saw it as a great move towards a global awareness when December 1 1988, was declared World AIDS Day by the Global Programme on AIDS Management Committee that held in Geneva, from 7th to 9th November 1988.
December 1st 2003 would thus not be the first World AIDS Day, nor would it be the last. It would not be so surprising to postulate that many of those who have celebrated the past World AIDS Days might never see the next occasion for they would have been dead from the very disease.
Despite all these global efforts, it would not be cutting our selves short if one says that HIV/AIDS has come to stay. Millions might wonder how this can be possible given the numerous announcements from the medias about yet another new AIDS drug or a possible breakthrough for an AIDS vaccine all the times. But then it’s time we begin to accept with fallen jaws that despite all progress, we are still in the footless paths of “No cure."
We would have loved to think that a cure is possible now or may be we keep dreaming of a future vaccine that will render AIDS history. What ever our state of mind now, the truth is that HIV rages on. It has already devastated Africa. It's on a rampage in Eastern Europe, and it's getting out of control in parts of China and India. Apart from sub-Saharan Africa, Asia as a whole has more people today living with HIV/AIDS than any other region on earth.
Many people around the world, including leading AIDS researchers alike seem to see a bleak picture about the future of this disease. In the next years to come, we will see an expanding epidemic; recent events will make the epidemic even worse because fewer resources are being put toward control. Let's hope for a miracle - in this case, an effective vaccine. That’s how it all started with the other diseases some of which are now eliminated from the face of the earth.
If I can remember well, eradicating smallpox and polio from the world by vaccination were massive, long-term endeavours. Making those vaccines was relatively straightforward compared to the scientific obstacles involved in creating and manufacturing an HIV vaccine. May be in the next five decades or so, we would have one that works… conceivably so in 10 years but certainly not next year or the year after next. Accepting that without a vaccine, HIV will continue to spread through susceptible populations, most of which will not be able to afford the therapies they need, can be a real bitter pill to swallow.
Concentrating all hopes on a vaccine while failing to treat people dying of AIDS with existing drugs is a counter productive strategy. People have underestimated the spread of this virus, and have been overly optimistic about vaccine prospects. Most dangerously, people have underestimated the potential of drugs to reduce sickness and death. HIV will continue to spread. It will take advantage of poverty and human dislocation as it has since the beginning of the epidemic. This means that unless something can be done, AIDS will kill more people than all other infectious diseases combined.
Many health authorities are getting optimistic about the long-term future. These hopes are based on better treatment and better prevention, not on a vaccine. Many hope that ant-retroviral drug use and prevention strategies will begin to make their way into the developing world and begin to help more people. But the bitter truth is that within the next10 years, AIDS will have taken a huge toll on the world population. If at all they are present at that time, the first-generation vaccines will only begin to make an impact. Thus in about 50 years to come, everything being equal, one would hope that the disease will be present in the world's population but that vaccination will be able to control it and access to anti-retroviral drugs will make it a manageable disease. By half a century, it may become like a sexually transmitted herpes infection in part from better prevention, because of better treatment and, unfortunately, also as a result of natural selection.
This leaves us with the uncomfortable predictions that so many people are likely to die of AIDS, those left standing will be more resistant to the disease and eventually, the epidemic will wane numerically but only because so many of the susceptible populations will have died, and perhaps because those that survive have responded to the deaths around them by altering behavioural patterns and lifestyles.
The poor countries whose economic bargaining power is a hindrance to adequate medical care therefore would have to get on their knees to plead with the rich nations of the world to make anti-HIV drugs available to those who now can't afford them. Such a program should go hand-in-glove with their efforts to reduce the spread of HIV.
From these landmarks, one can confidently hope to see continued development of more convenient, less toxic, and more potent anti-HIV drugs. The most critical challenge we'll face is how to make these agents more broadly available in areas in which the epidemic has and will be moving. We need integrated programs that can reduce illness and death and that will maximize the success of prevention programs. Without making drug access a major resource and logistical priority, we're going to see the spread of this disease exceed the expectations of even the most pessimistic projections.
But we still have much to do as some of the very earliest and biggest names in HIV research are optimistic though however, they don’t predict a total end to AIDS. One can therefore say that in 10 years, we will have good therapeutic control of HIV and in the next ten decades, we will certainly have an effective vaccine and, perhaps, will have begun campaigns to eliminate the virus from certain regions of the world.
The irony, of course, is that HIV is a preventable disease. The tragedy is that people continue to put themselves and others at risk ensuring many, many more World AIDS Days to come.
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Crystal_Abongta
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I hope I never set off a chain Reaction
October 30, 2003 - 06:22 AM
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Well just as I was saying some where in the posting of “World AIDS Day”, it has been confirmed to me that, one of the guys with whom I work so hard to organize events marking the World AIDS Day celebrations of 2002. Reliable sources say he died a few days ago after reaching the terminal stage of an HIV infection. Wajiri Ernest has been living positively with the HIV for the past six years.
Wajiri Ernest was a guy who worked so hard to keep the candle alight in an association of friends who are all HIV positive. He has so far been the first to die in the association. I met Ernest during a seminar that I facilitated some years back. Ernest came up to me courageously during a coffee break and told me he was ready to give a testimony of his HIV status. That is when I understood I was dealing with an HIV positive participant. Even as an HIV/Programme coordinator for my organization at the time, I was taken aback by such courage and enthusiasm. That’s how we started off with Ernest who in less than a year had testified in about 50 different occasions along side his inputs during my HIV/AIDS radio programmes.
Ernest became popular among is peer in the community and through my help, he started an association of youths living with HIV in his community. During the celebration of 2002, Ernest’s association presented 25 members who were ready to give testimonies and publicly declare their HIV statuses and enrolled for a peer educator programme.
Today, he’s no more and as he starts his journey to the land of no return, his community would live to remember his good will and work in eradicating stigmatization on people living with HIV. His association did much in changing the community member’s attitudes towards people living with HIV.
I keep particular good memories of Ernest for the person he was. His style of life and his interpersonal skills has been a real source of inspiration for me. In him, I saw immeasurable courage in handling delicate issues as those linked to HIV. He leaves behind an association of 24 members to continue the work he had started.
Worth noting and appreciating was Ernest’s role in keeping his girlfriend safe from the HIV after he tested positive. She accepted his status and they lived on until his death. Mariam is the only HIV negative member of the association and is part of the sensitization team.
May be, just maybe some activities would be inserted into the world AIDS day celebrations to remember those who have died in the battle.
May his soul rest in peace.
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Karl Woods
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Re: World AIDS Day
November 3, 2003 - 04:38 AM
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World AIDS Day also happens to fall on the birthday of Matthew Shepard, the 21 year old guy from Wyoming who was murdered for being gay. It is a special day for me, as it is for his family. I think it should be a general day of celebration and rememberance.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/matthewshepard/
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Crystal_Abongta
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Live and Let Live
November 5, 2003 - 03:39 AM
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Originally posted by doverlad
World AIDS Day also happens to fall on the birthday of Matthew Shepard, the 21 year old guy from Wyoming who was murdered for being gay. It is a special day for me, as it is for his family. I think it should be a general day of celebration and rememberance.
What a great loss it must have been for you and the family. Truly it should be a day of remembrance and stock taking, call it evaluation of work done already over the year towards eradicating the HIV and reminding ourselves of what is still to be done.
What a coincidence this might have been, somebody is killed on 1st December because of his sexual orientation. At the center of it all, I see a connection between gay and HIV. Looking back into the history of this monstrous illness, we find gays at the center of its transmission.
Well I have don’t know study neither have I ready much on the probability that homosexuals transmit the virus more than heterosexuals but it remains fundamentally true that they have really been instrumental in getting this virus into the wild just one of the reasons being that they are often part of the injecting drug users yet another bad category of HIV vectors so to call them.
Make no mistake, I am not pointing accusing fingers are your late friend neither am I insinuating that he deserves what he got, I am simply saying that faced with this virus that seem to have defied all scientific intelligence and over a decades work in the laboratory, we need to reconfigure our sexual lives and preferences. We need to adopt sane comportments that keep us at no risk and at kilometers apart from the HIV.
That might be one of the reasons why this years theme of the world AIDS day keeps on as “Live and Let Live”
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DAKE KOFI SELORM
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AIDS IS REAL
November 8, 2003 - 08:05 AM
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HIV/AIDS is a global disaster and what matters now is prevention since management is ineffective.
many people are aware of HIV/AIDS but the attitudinal change is seriously lacking. education must focus on involement of the youth in paricular as they are the hardest hit group, yet the economically viable group any nation can have.
the furture of posterity is threatened and all hands must be on deck to fight this menace.
stigmatization of victims, especially in Africa should be fought hard to cease otherwise we will be killing only dead snakes.
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Crystal_Abongta
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Its solidarity
November 29, 2003 - 07:41 AM
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It is 29/111/2003; I am just back from my fourth visit since Monday in commemoration of the World AIDS day 2003 that would be celebrated this 01/12/03 just a day ahead. For this year, I have visited four of my friends whose names I am not ready to disclose. For clarity, I give them the names Tom, Paul, Jude and Ernest.
These are the four guys with whom I organized last year’s manifestations making the World AIDS Day 2002. Tom and Paul already knew they were HIV Positive and have been managing to get some anti-retroviral to make live worth living. Jude on the other hand had to go for the HIV test after serious persuasions and counseling we arranged for him and as fate would have it, he tested positive. Ernest picked on the HIV in the course of the year well after the celebrations.
The dramatic side of it is that Ernest who became positive in the course of the year has depreciated much more than the other three followed by Jude and Paul. In fact, Ernest and Paul are already bedridden and can’t carry themselves on their legs. Jude is still mustering some courage and keeping the days going, he’s able to move around in the quarter and attend club meetings.
The person who despite his longevity with the virus is still very energetic and waxing strong is Tom. Some close friends are beginning to suspect that he was not infected after all and that he just announced his status to win solidarity and support. Personally, I have accompanied Tom to the hospital twice for follow-up tests and his positive status was confirmed during these visits.
What was really disturbing during these visits was that three of these friends would not be able to partake in the celebrations for this year due to the same illness there were fighting against. The three who are bedridden now are long distant truck drivers. It took me so long to get them accept to stop moving with women in their Lorries and stop sleeping with women along the roads they use. Tom though still strong would one day come to the same stage.
As a teacher, he thought all the girls in the schools where he thought were designed for his sexual desires. Since he became HIV positive, he’s been sacked from two different schools successively because of his status. We had to intervene before he was accepted where he teaches now. I still have a fear for the young girls I often meet him with at odd hours. Though he keeps telling me he is abstaining, I am not so sure.
Visiting them during this time enabled me to listened to their problems, and provide the little help I have been able to mobilize during the year. Looking back now, its nothing compared to their needs. At least my presence around them during this time helped them psychologically.
I keep asking myself why give up your life to misery because of a few minutes of sexual sensations you had with an infected person? Is life just based on sex? What are the forces that make some people not to be able to resist or control their sexual desires? Certainly more questions than answers.
With all the education, the sensitization, the same people still fall prey for goodness sake. This years theme is “Live and let Live” that we should live and give a chance to the HIV positive people to live, why not AIDS is just another illness like the others even if with repairable results, its still an illness. No doubt the world today is divided into those who know their status and those who don’t know.
Would World AIDS day 2003 bring:
New hope for a future cure?
New hope for those already infected?
New hope for those at risk?
New hope for a change of behavior?
We just have to wait and see
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Hussein Macarambon
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Re: World AIDS Day
November 30, 2003 - 07:52 AM
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You got a red ribbon?
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Terri Willard
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Live and Let Live
December 1, 2003 - 02:05 AM
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Originally posted by Abongta
Well I have don’t know study neither have I ready much on the probability that homosexuals transmit the virus more than heterosexuals but it remains fundamentally true that they have really been instrumental in getting this virus into the wild just one of the reasons being that they are often part of the injecting drug users yet another bad category of HIV vectors so to call them.
Biologically, all people have the potential to transmit at the same rates. Increased rates of transmission are more directly linked to numbers of sexual partners, the types of sexual activity, and condom usage. Someone with more time today might be able to find recent comparative studies on those issues. But, I think the key question revolves around how to empower all people to engage in safer sex, rather than singling out any given group.
Abongta, if you are interested in learning more about dealing with substance abuse problems in the LGBT community, I would recommend going through all 3 files linked to from http://www.fsw.ucalgary.ca/ramsay/gay-lesbian-bisexual/8a-drugs-alcohol-gay.htm The dissertation abstracts are particularly interesting.
Mostly what they point out is that substance abuse tends to be higher amongst populations which feel ostracized and suffer from higher levels of poverty -- leading to depression and risky coping behaviours.
However, many of the recent studies are now indicating that earlier methodologies led to misleading results indicating higher IV drug use in the gay male community in N. America. What they are now showing is the most serious problem is alcoholism amongst young lesbians - not IV drug use amongst gay men. While a very serious issue in its own right, it is not directly linked to HIV transmission (although it could be given that many young lesbians appear clueless re: facts of potential for HIV transmission between women).
Where social acceptance of the LGBT community is rising, the rates of risky behaviours is dropping.
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Oreoluwa
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Re: World AIDS Day
December 1, 2003 - 02:29 AM
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Originally posted by Abongta It is true to an extend but I want you to consider that there are people living with the disease, there are those caring for people living with it and there are people working 24 hrs every blessed day in the fields, the laboratories, the class rooms the communities et to eradicate this disease.
Yes, Abongta, this is definitely true and by not mentioning these groups of people, I did not intend to downplay the immense amount of work and dedication they exhibit in fighting this disease. I was speaking more to people who are not living with or affected by the disease. It's much easier to ignore a problem that has not yet impacted us directly. And from speaking to friends and family, I realise still how many misconceptions about how the virus is transmitted and who is vulnerable to the virus exist. This is why year-long activism by everyone, whether they have been affected directly by HIV/AIDS or not, is so important.
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Crystal_Abongta
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Re: World AIDS Day
December 1, 2003 - 04:18 AM
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Originally posted by whossane
You got a red ribbon?
Much more than that you might not belief it, just yesterday 31st November, I received two red ribbons, one from the US and one from South Africa. The one from South Africa is from an HIV positive friend who included a video tape of himself giving a testimony. He has authorized me to use the tape in my seminars. I am planning to invite him to the Behavior Change Party I am organizing here in Cameroon.
Just this morning, From my Cameroonina public, I have received one ribon from a 12 year old HIV positive girl who attended my seminar I facilitated some months back. Her message is edifying.
I have dished out 10 red ribbons to loved ones and those implicated in the fight against this dreadful disease as a sign of encouragement to them. You may ask why the figure 10. It is a very important figure for me, first of all its an even number demonstrating our even efforts to conquer the disease and secondly it’s the first double number after the series of single numbers showing that the a unified effort both for those at risk and those spearheading the fight is needed to succeed.
My prayer this day is that a multidimensional approach should be used hence forth to contain this disease.
Gracias
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Oreoluwa
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Re: World AIDS Day
December 1, 2003 - 11:26 AM
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For many people, HIV/AIDS is something to think about once a year when Dec 1 approaches. We all need to bear in mind that there are many things that we can do all year round and this includes addressing misconceptions, spreading the message of safer sex, and devoting out time to volunteer.
A good website for people living in the New England area (in the US) to check is http://www.aac.org/site/.
Others can do a search using the keywords "AIDS + HIV + volunteer"
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Crystal_Abongta
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Is it so??
December 1, 2003 - 12:45 PM
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Originally posted by awooof
For many people, HIV/AIDS is something to think about once a year when Dec 1 approaches...
It is true to an extend but I want you to consider that there are people living with the disease, there are those caring for people living with it and there are people working 24 hrs every blessed day in the fields, the laboratories, the class rooms the communities et to eradicate this disease.
While some are sleeping, others are working. While some think it’s a disease for the others, some know it could be everybody’s illness. Unfortunately, HIV would never discriminate;
It is color blind and so would not notice racial differences
It has no sexual orientation and so would not differentiate between bisexuals, homosexuals or heterosexuals
It is gender blind and so would not discriminate between a man or woman
It would get to anybody who is at risk. It is only when a doctor tells you that you are now HIV positive that you begin to see the world in two phases. We need to allocate some time on a daily basis for this man killer disease.
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jesse adams
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Re: World AIDS Day
February 3, 2004 - 02:48 AM
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Homesexuality is not responsible for Aids. This is as valid a statement as saying that the peole with AIDS in Africa are transmitting the virus.
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Crystal_Abongta
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Re: World AIDS Day
February 4, 2004 - 11:45 AM
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Originally posted by jda
Homesexuality is not responsible for Aids. This is as valid a statement as saying that the peole with AIDS in Africa are transmitting the virus.
Nobody has said they are responsible, it is rather said their life style was partly the main cause of the wide spread of the virus.
Jda, you always force me to believe that you speak/write before thinking which is too bad for a person like you.
Putting something in your own words is not the same as blaspheming ok
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jesse adams
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Re: World AIDS Day
February 9, 2004 - 01:25 AM
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Abongta you are using semantics. You use the term 'life style' and say this is different than the individuals. You have frequently used denegrative comments and tgerms about homosexuality. It has been put to you that if the same comments were used on a racial basis you would be, understandably, upset. How then does your comments on homosexuality differ? If your statementwere changed to 'The african lifestyle is responsible for the spread of AIDS" would this be a valid point?
The gay lifestyle is the cartoon version po;pularised by the 'Gods vengence' school of AIDS transmission. Homosexuals have pretty much the same life style as heterosexuals. There may be instances of homosexuals indulging in questionable practices prior to the spread of the disease. Heterosexuals also indulged in questionable practices, and on a much larger scale. AIDS is a viral disease spred through body fluids, by the time the vector was discovered it had spread hugely, predominantly through prostitution. A primary mode of transmission is via inravenous drug users - now there is a 'life style'.
It is important that our own innate prejudices and ignorance do not form the basis of our supposedly informed opinion. I think that perhaps your own, well documented, dislike for homosexuels in general is coloring your thinking on this subject.
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