World AIDS day

It won’t have escaped you that today is World AIDS day. Today we mark the fact that across the world more than 40 million people are living with HIV – 25 million of which live in sub-Saharan Africa. Every single day 15,000 people are infected with HIV.

For the community I work in HIV/AIDS dominates the whole of life. The estimated national rate of HIV/AIDS in Zambia is 16%, in the town we are in it is at 26%, and in the compounds of that town it is estimated to be even higher. People are scared to go and get tested and only do so when it’s too late. ARV drugs are free, but the blood count tests and transport to hospitals creates too much of a barrier to going to hospital to get them. If people do get onto the drugs then they need a balanced diet to be able to withstand the strength of the drugs – this is next to impossible in a community where people only expect to have a meal every other day. You see couple after couple nurse a partner until they pass away, knowing they will follow but wondering where they will get the care from.

But even these are the lucky ones. Partners will often run away when they find out that their spouse is sick, even though they themselves will be sick. One woman I met, called Beauty, was infected by her husband. She found out she was HIV+ as she was pregnant and was encouraged to go for testing. When the husband found out the news he ran away leaving her with their two children and one unborn child. She was desperate so ‘married’ someone quickly to get a roof over their heads – so she ended up being married to a man who now beats her and the children, but she has no where else to go. She gave birth to her child who only lived for one year. HIV is trapping people into poverty more than ever and making a mockery of any other development work.

On the other hand I have met people who have been brought back from the brink of death by the ARV drugs and are so inspired by this experience that they spend time helping others in home based care programmes, counselling or prevention programmes. They are the best people to get alongside those who are struggling as they offer inspiration, hope and understanding that no one else can quite match.

Lets not give up hope in the face of this pandemic. Let’s stand with those who are suffering, support them in life and be with them as they approach death. Let’s listen to those who are suffering and give them a platform to talk to the world. Let’s get all these big Bill Gates/ Bill Clinton projects right to the grassroots by empowering local communities to be a bridge. Let’s not forget that this is a pandemic that could be wiped out and lets not forget that those living with HIV/AIDS are still living and are created in the image of God.

Last year world leaders made a promise – that by 2010, AIDS treatment would be available to all who need it. That was in 2005, at the G8 summit in Edinburgh. The is calling on the UK government to keep this promise. Take action online with Tearfund or Oxfam.

Fancy doing more? Giant drug company Novartis is currently challenging Indian Patent Law in the courts after being denied a patent for a cancer drug. If they win, this will limit India’s ability to produce and export cheaper generic drugs to other developing countries, including HIV medicines currently benefiting millions of poor people. You can lobby Novartis through this Oxfam action page.