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Ntamack bilong [ Profil ] |
| Sujet: |
HIV/AIDS, Problem Tree and recommendations
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| Envoyé: |
Jan 16th, 2007 - 05:13:46 |
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Civil wars, corruption and embezzlement of public
funds have prolong social, economic and psychological
effects as women are usually raped, child abuse sexual
promiscuity and prostitution common and the
devastating effect of this social unrest apart from
the killings is HIV infected population, child
prostitution and trafficking, lack of social
facilities like schools, hospitals, clean water not to
talk of the mass movement of people in the affected
area (refugees) etc.
Africa is currently experiencing a deepening health
crisis. The origins, component and its impact on
society are complex. Aids raises fundamental issues
about the way a society handles taboo subjects like
sex, drugs, sickness and death.
HIV/AIDS, the most devastating problem that humanity
has had to face in centuries can be summarize in spite
of its complexity, in a problem tree that can not be
drawn on this page.
The deep seated causes are hidden in the roots and can
be divided into three categories;
*Remote causes: - provocative/sexy clothing, nocturnal
outing, surprise parties which are not part of the
African culture, and of course ignorance.
*Intermediate causes: - alcoholism which may lead to
poor judgment (unprotected sex), drug abuse,
unfaithfulness.
*Direct causes: - unprotected sexual intercourse,
blood contamination with HIV and from mother to child.
The illness is as visible as the trunk and it is a
problem awaiting solution. They are appearances of
specific antibodies, fall in CD4 lymphocytes and
various clinical manifestations.
Finally, the multiple consequences are there for all
to see like the widespread branches and leaves and can
also be divided into three categories.
*The family experiences additional social and
financial burden, absence of joy and happiness.
*The society experiences uncertain inheritance to
young people and finally
*The individual undergoes physical and moral
suffering, illnesses, isolation, despair and death.
With the infected, stigmatization and discrimination
of people living with the virus occur in all the
sectors including schools and health institutions.
The rights of PLWHA are being abused all over the
world and in Africa in particular. In December 2006, a
community in the south west province beat up a man to
death for publicly announcing he was HIV positive
while another man in that same community murdered his
girl friend after learning that she was positive and
has infected him.
Stigmatization is dehumanizing and should not be allow
to take root in the society. Stigmatization is
discrediting and reduces an infected person from
worthy and whole person to a discounted and
discredited being within a particular setting.
Discrimination creates mental agony and even result in
suicide. Inequity violates the right of PLWHA.
Despite provisions to protect PLWHA, governments and
other human rights agencies should guarantee the right
to equal protection before the law especially in
Africa and freedom from discrimination on ground of
race, sex, religion and social origins.
PLWHA are still denied medical secrecy in Cameroon,
respect for private life, right to employment, because
their community consider them as cursed by the Gods
for sexual promiscuity.
The control of HIV/AID must not depend upon merely
dishing out large sums of money to governments and
NGOs but rather by putting in place a participative
process with the objective of mobilizing everybody and
committed youth volunteers with track records.
Programmes of action and budget must bear in mind
these principles. Communities engaged in the war
against HIV/AIDS are in fact fighting for their own
survival and survival must be their just rewards.
In the fight against HIV/AIDS, community participation
and involvement is the key strategy. Choosing and
adapting affordable technologies would facilitate the
attainment of the targeted goal set by governments in
developing countries (i.e. reduce the prevalence
rate).
This must allow for the integration of activities at
the grassroots communities so that collaboration
between the different sectors and actors (employed and
unemployed) would be effective.
The recruitment, training and involvement of young
people in their locality of origin, assignment or
attachment are the sheet anchor of the participative
and educative strategy. This is because, what is
needed is not more talk but rather more and more
people doing something about it (testing and
behavioural change). It requires determining who
should be targeted, and what activities should be
programmed, by whom, where and when and with what
means.
Educating the youths through forums and workshops is
necessary to create awareness. The Aids community has
worked tirelessly to get governments to deal with the
problems of ignorance, unemployment which are also a
concern as far as fighting the pandemic in Africa and
other developing countries.
Separating the facts of HIV transmission from fear and
shame is not easy. Society should as a matter of
urgency ensure that the rights of PLWHA are respected
as enshrined in the laws of the land.
Governments should adopt a legal frame work in other
to combat HIV AIDS related stigmatization and
discrimination. And with a consistent international
support, prevention advocates can sustain the peer and
grassroots specific education which is the hardest nut
to crack because of the diversity of cultures.
Ntamack John Billong
Secretary General
Prolife Aids League
Tel: +237 791 65 77.
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