its world AIDS day today. a day that is set aside to bring to top of mind, the global pandemic known as HIV/AIDS. as with all things that afflict the human race, we have come from blame shifting, to research, to prevention...and we are inching closer to a cure. how am i so confident?
well, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, in 2010 there were 1.8 million AIDS related deaths, down from 2.2 million in 2005. In Nigeria, we had roughly two hundred thousand deaths in over two million HIV infections for 2009 and that shows that our HIV counter programs work, or we are not reporting every HIV infection/death case... or we are lying to the united nations.
either way, sounds like great news but that number remains a large fraction of the Lagos population for context and there is more to be done. however, my sincere happiness lies in the fact that for once, whether driven or led, nigeria appears to be doing what is right in terms of not being the last to tackle this global disease before it decimated the population.
we have heard so much about this whole HIV matter in print and electronic media, that it can sometimes seem overdone. but the shocking thing is, that from available scientific research, 85% of sexually active nigerians do not use condoms and other protection during sex. we still live under the social impression that once you are married you are safe. we also still largely think that anyone who has HIV got it through sex. we still pity people who are HIV positive and are either over-sympathetic or avoid them altogether. we still refuse to check our status for fear of hearing bad news. and we are nowhere to be found in terms of accurate medical statistics to aid national planning and funding.
the truth is, as long as we continue to associate the disease with sexual immorality, we will leave a large percentage of infected people unknown, these unknown people will continue to infect others inadvertently, and the government will never allocate enough money for anti-retroviral drugs. its a vicious cycle that we must break. we must talk openly about sex with our peers, church brethren, siblings and kids without embarassment. we should encourage housegirls, drivers, gardeners and security men at our homes to go and get tested at our cost. we must enable people to own up to their status without reproach by continuing to treat those we know living with the virus exactly the same as before and above all, we must stop all these "come and get spiritual healing for your HIV" madness and direct people to treatment and counselling centres around you. which means that you, my dear reader - healthy and happily married even - must at least know where such a centre exists in your area.
so today, if nothing else, do something special in remembrance of all those who were forcefully infected through rape, children who are orphaned by the disease and for all those suffering in shame silently in their village huts waiting to die from the infection. its one step at a time until the cure...and we need your feet now.
see y'all around peeps.
well, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, in 2010 there were 1.8 million AIDS related deaths, down from 2.2 million in 2005. In Nigeria, we had roughly two hundred thousand deaths in over two million HIV infections for 2009 and that shows that our HIV counter programs work, or we are not reporting every HIV infection/death case... or we are lying to the united nations.
either way, sounds like great news but that number remains a large fraction of the Lagos population for context and there is more to be done. however, my sincere happiness lies in the fact that for once, whether driven or led, nigeria appears to be doing what is right in terms of not being the last to tackle this global disease before it decimated the population.
we have heard so much about this whole HIV matter in print and electronic media, that it can sometimes seem overdone. but the shocking thing is, that from available scientific research, 85% of sexually active nigerians do not use condoms and other protection during sex. we still live under the social impression that once you are married you are safe. we also still largely think that anyone who has HIV got it through sex. we still pity people who are HIV positive and are either over-sympathetic or avoid them altogether. we still refuse to check our status for fear of hearing bad news. and we are nowhere to be found in terms of accurate medical statistics to aid national planning and funding.
the truth is, as long as we continue to associate the disease with sexual immorality, we will leave a large percentage of infected people unknown, these unknown people will continue to infect others inadvertently, and the government will never allocate enough money for anti-retroviral drugs. its a vicious cycle that we must break. we must talk openly about sex with our peers, church brethren, siblings and kids without embarassment. we should encourage housegirls, drivers, gardeners and security men at our homes to go and get tested at our cost. we must enable people to own up to their status without reproach by continuing to treat those we know living with the virus exactly the same as before and above all, we must stop all these "come and get spiritual healing for your HIV" madness and direct people to treatment and counselling centres around you. which means that you, my dear reader - healthy and happily married even - must at least know where such a centre exists in your area.
so today, if nothing else, do something special in remembrance of all those who were forcefully infected through rape, children who are orphaned by the disease and for all those suffering in shame silently in their village huts waiting to die from the infection. its one step at a time until the cure...and we need your feet now.
see y'all around peeps.
Comments
Say is it possible for u to do a piece for world disability day (3rd dec) with some mention of the non-physical disabilities (autism n other developmental disabilities #hint,hint#)
I would have but i don't write half as good as u.
Thanks....